Three major porn websites, Pornhub, YouPorn and RedTube have suspended access to their websites to users based in France on Wednesday.
“Access to our site in France is suspended from 4 June 2025,” the message reads in French on the homepage of the three pornographic websites.
The French government is asking the websites to use age verification systems on these platforms. “It’s crazy, right?,” the message reads.
It doesn’t protect minors – but on the contrary, it endangers everyone’s privacy and puts children at risk,” the statement adds.
Aylo, parent company of the three websites, confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday that it would block access to French users. This follows a disagreement with the French government over the use of age verification.
“We know people will not stop looking for porn. They just migrate to hundreds of thousands unsafe platforms that have not only chosen to be non-compliant,” Aylo said in a statement on Wednesday as the block went into effect.
“See you soon, when you agree to respect the laws of the Republic!”, French Digital Minister Clara Chappaz posted on X after the block came into effect.
(cp)
