### Pornhub and Adult Sites Block Access in France Over Controversial Age Verification Law In a significant move, Pornhub, along with its sister sites YouPorn and RedTube, has officially blocked access to its platforms in France. This decision is a direct response to a new French law mandating that adult websites verify the ages of their users through stringent methods, including the use of credit cards or ID documents. The law, aimed at protecting minors, has sparked widespread backlash from adult content providers, leading to the suspension of services in one of their largest markets [https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/you-can-t-watch-pornhub-anymore-if-you-re-in-this-country-here-s-what-happened-article-13101040.html][https://www.vice.com/en/article/pornhub-pulls-out-of-france-over-age-verification-law]. ### Overview of the Situation and Its Implications 1. **Background of the Law**: - France has implemented a new law requiring adult websites to verify the age of their users to prevent minors from accessing explicit content [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/03/pornhub-france-id-verification]. 2. **Response from Adult Sites**: - In protest against this law, Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, has decided to block access to its platforms in France, arguing that the verification methods are intrusive and ineffective [https://decrypt.co/323881/vpn-usage-spikes-france-pornhub-age-restrictions][https://www.euronews.com/2025/06/04/pornhub-owner-suspends-access-in-france-in-protest-over-age-verification-law]. 3. **Impact on Users**: - French users attempting to access these sites will now be greeted with a message denouncing the new age verification requirements, highlighting the ongoing tension between regulatory measures and user access to adult content [https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3312955/porn-sites-block-access-france-protest-against-new-restrictions]. 4. **Surge in VPN Usage**: - Following the block, there has been a reported surge in VPN signups in France, with some services like ProtonVPN seeing a 1,000% increase, indicating a pushback from users against the new regulations [https://decrypt.co/323881/vpn-usage-spikes-france-pornhub-age-restrictions]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **User Access Blocked**: - Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube have all suspended access in France as of June 4, 2025, in protest of the new law [https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/pornhub-youporn-redtube-owner-to-suspend-content-in-france/article69655272.ece]. - **VPN Surge**: - The spike in VPN usage reflects a significant public response to the law, with many users seeking ways to bypass the restrictions imposed by the French government [https://decrypt.co/323881/vpn-usage-spikes-france-pornhub-age-restrictions]. ### Conclusion: The Ongoing Debate Over Age Verification The blocking of Pornhub and its affiliated sites in France underscores a critical debate over the balance between protecting minors and ensuring access to adult content. 1. **Key Findings**: - **Regulatory Measures**: The French law aims to protect minors but has faced backlash for being overly intrusive [https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/06/03/pornhub-youporn-and-redtube-to-block-their-sites-in-france-starting-wednesday_6741968_13.html]. - **Industry Response**: Adult content providers are taking a stand against these regulations, leading to significant changes in user access [https://www.techspot.com/news/108181-pornhub-withdraws-france-age-verfication-checks-get-intrusive.html]. - **Public Reaction**: The increase in VPN usage indicates a strong public sentiment against the law, suggesting that many users are unwilling to accept these restrictions [https://decrypt.co/323881/vpn-usage-spikes-france-pornhub-age-restrictions]. In summary, the situation in France highlights the complexities of regulating adult content in the digital age, raising questions about privacy, access, and the effectiveness of age verification measures.