Pornhub wants Apple and Google to handle age checks on devices
Pornhub is urging Apple and Google to add age verification directly into phones and tablets, after new rules in the UK and some US states made age checks mandatory for adult sites.
These laws have caused Pornhub's traffic to drop sharply—down 77% in the UK and up to 80% in places like Louisiana.
Why this matters (and what's next):
Pornhub says current ways of checking ages just aren't working, so they're asking tech companies to help make it smoother.
Their legal chief, Anthony Penhale, suggests storing age info on your device instead of online, which could mean less hassle with personal data.
But privacy experts worry this could hurt online anonymity or lead to more digital IDs—and there are still risks of data leaks with any system.
California's new Digital Age Assurance Act, set for 2027, might push things further in this direction.