Aylo, the owner of Pornhub and other sites, has begun blocking Australian users in protest of the country’s new age verification laws, with some sites like RedTube not accepting new registrations and others restricting access ahead of a March 9 deadline.

Verification methods may include government ID checks, credit card verifications, and facial age estimation, with guidance to minimize data collection and comply with privacy laws.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner backs the new codes, arguing they add safeguards for children online, comparable to offline protections in bars or shops.

Phase 2 of Australia’s Online Safety Codes requires age verification across platforms starting March 9, with penalties up to AU$49.5 million per breach for non-compliance and options including facial age estimation, digital wallets, and photo ID.

VPN use could rise as a workaround, mirroring patterns seen in the UK after similar verification steps, though circumvention is discouraged and may broaden the scope of verification.

Reporters note ongoing developments and attribute coverage to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.

Aylo has a controversial history, including past investigations by the US Department of Justice over profits from sex-trafficking proceeds and an FTC case over deceptive practices related to removing child sexual abuse material and non-consensual content.

Australia’s approach aligns with the UK’s framework, prompting continued monitoring of platform responses and compliance.

Industry and advocacy groups warn of potential chilling effects and over-filtering that could limit access to sexual-health information.

The March 9 rules require facial age estimation, digital wallets, and photo ID for access to age-restricted material on websites.

Aylo argues Australia’s approach mirrors the UK and does not effectively protect minors, citing concerns about privacy and increased exposure on non-compliant platforms.

Aylo has previously blocked or limited access in the UK and France as part of its stance against new requirements.