Well-known adult video platforms Pornhub, Youporn, and RedTube have decided to suspend their operations in France to protest against the government's new age verification mechanism. The parent company Aylo states that the French government's age verification system poses operational challenges and potentially exposes numerous users to data breach risks, leading to their reluctant decision.

According to reports from The Guardian, starting in 2025, the French government is set to implement measures aimed at preventing minors from accessing adult sites, necessitating that all users confirm their age using credit cards or ID numbers before being allowed access. However, the platforms contend that this approach is ineffective and a waste of resources, as it increases the risk of user data being compromised by hackers.

Aylo's spokesperson indicated their inability to comply with the new French regulations, stating they would stop local operations and issue a statement on their website to inform users of the dangers posed by the new law regarding privacy and effectiveness.

In response, French Culture Minister Aurore Berge stated on social media that if Pornhub and partner sites would rather cut services for French users than comply with legal regulations, it is a welcome result, as it makes it more difficult for minors to access harmful content.

Moreover, Arcom, the French communications regulator, pointed out that despite legal prohibitions, up to 2.3 million minors still visit pornographic sites each month. Aylo has also included a famous painting by French Romantic artist Eugène Delacroix titled "Liberty Leading the People" in their messaging to critique the Paris government's stance.