In brief
Pornhub has returned to Australia after an eight‑month absence caused by new age‑verification laws. The site will be available only to users who have proven they are adults via Apple’s age‑verification process. Apple’s system sets child‑safety settings by default, and the company sees this as a privacy‑friendly way to keep minors out. Critics still worry about data privacy and the potential for people to bypass checks with VPNs. The move marks the first time a known porn site has used a manufacturer‑based age‑check to meet local regulations.
Pornhub has returned to Australia, eight months after it went dark because new laws required users to prove they were over 18.
On Wednesday Aylo, the parent company, said it was restoring access for adult users who are verified by Apple’s Australian age‑verification system.
Apple’s system turns child‑safety features on by default for all its devices, and users must confirm they are adults to turn them off.
Aylo says this solution is more private and effective than letting sites store personal data and with it the potential for breaches.
Critics warn that the system can still be tricked with credit‑card numbers, facial recognition attempts or VPNs that spoof a foreign location.
Despite the concerns, Pornhub’s return is a sign that the government may favour device‑based verification over third‑party checks for online safety.
