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Pornhub Blocks Access in France over Age Verification Law
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On June 4, the well-known porn site Pornhub suddenly stopped its service in France. Its homepage only left a famous painting, Liberty Leading the People, along with a protest statement. This move was aimed at opposing the French government’s new age verification law.
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What Happened to Pornhub in France?
Is Pornhub down in France? On June 4, 2025, Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, announced that it was suspending the services of its adult content platforms (including Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube) in France.
When French users visit Pornhub, they can no longer access regular content. Instead, they can only see the famous painting “Liberty Leading the People” by the French artist Delacroix—with the woman holding the French flag now depicted in Pornhub’s signature orange color—and a statement underneath.
Why Pornhub pulled out of France? This move is a protest against France’s new age verification law.
The new law requires adult websites to use stricter verification methods, not just a simple checkbox for “I am 18 or older.” For example, users may have to provide a credit card or a government-issued ID to prove their age.
If sites fail to comply, the French media and digital regulator (ARCOM) could issue formal warnings, block the websites, or impose heavy fines.
Why Does Aylo Refuse to Follow Age Verification Laws?
Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, has always strongly opposed age verification laws. The company argues that these laws not only fail to effectively protect minors but also risk violating users’ privacy.
As an alternative, Aylo proposed an alternative solution: age verification at the device level.
This means operating system developers like Microsoft, Apple, and Google handle age verification on the devices themselves. Aylo believes this approach would protect minors while avoiding privacy risks.
However, since the French government insisted on enforcing the current law, Aylo decided to proactively suspend its services in France before the June 7 deadline set by the government.
Pornhub was blunt in its announcement:
“Your government’s proposal to verify your age every time you visit our site is crazy, right?”
“This doesn’t protect minors—on the contrary, it jeopardizes everyone’s privacy and exposes children to risks.”
“We refuse to compromise your privacy with measures that, paradoxically, fail to effectively protect minors.”
What Is the French Government’s Stance on Pornhub’s Exit?
In response to Aylo’s decision, the French government responded firmly.
Clara Chappaz, France’s Secretary of State for Digital Affairs, told AFP, “The requirement for websites to verify age is not about embarrassing adults; it’s about protecting our children. (…) If Aylo prefers to leave France rather than follow our laws, so be it!”
France’s Minister of Culture, Aurore Bergé, also weighed in. On Tuesday, she posted on X, saying, “Protecting minors is our commitment, our responsibility. Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube refuse to comply with our legal framework and have decided to leave. So much the better! There will be less violent, degrading, and humiliating content accessible to minors in France. Goodbye.”
Additionally, last month, French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated his stance, saying he supports not only age verification for adult sites but also mandatory age checks for teenagers signing up on social media platforms. He pointed out that inappropriate content online is causing mental health issues and distress among young people.
VPN Demand Surges 1,000% After Pornhub Exits France
There has been a mixed reaction from the French public after Pornhub and other porn sites run by Aylo suspended their services in France.
Many people support the new age verification law. They think it’s a necessary step to better protect minors from inappropriate content.
However, some people are concerned about the new law, particularly regarding user privacy and personal freedom. They believe that requiring a credit card or government ID for age verification is an invasion of privacy and could lead to the disclosure of their personal information. These concerns have sparked widespread discussion on social media and online forums like Reddit.
Additionally, some tech-savvy users have already begun using VPNs or other methods to get Pornhub unblocked. Reports show that on the same day Pornhub left France, signups for one VPN service skyrocketed by 1,000%.
Although this may go against the service provider’s rules and carry legal risks, it reflects a strong desire among some users for unrestricted access to information.
France: Pornhub’s Second-Biggest Market After the US
France is Pornhub’s second-largest market worldwide, just behind the United States.
Pornhub has long been one of the most popular adult websites worldwide, with France playing a key role in its traffic. The country’s 68 million residents generate up to 7 million daily visits, totaling an estimated 2.6 to 4.2 billion views annually.
Pornhub’s sudden exit from the French market has impacted around 68 million French users and dealt a significant blow to the online adult content market in France.
Is Pornhub Banned in the US?
Pornhub’s ban in France isn’t an isolated case. In the U.S., Pornhub has also suspended access in several states due to similar age verification laws.
As of 2025, at least 17 states in the U.S. have enacted age verification laws requiring adult sites to perform strict age checks. This led Aylo to cut off access in these areas even before doing so in France rather than complying with these regulations.
The states involved include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
This trend reflects a global move towards stricter regulation of online content, particularly to protect minors. As more countries enforce strict age verification laws, other porn sites are likely to face similar challenges in the near future.
