• Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube block access in France starting June 4.
• The sites protest a new law requiring stringent age verification for users.
• Aylo argues that the law infringes on user privacy and poses security risks.
• The French law aims to protect minors from accessing adult content online.
• Access to these sites may be blocked as French regulators increase enforcement.

Aylo, which owns Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube, has announced the suspension of its services in France starting June 4, in protest against new regulations that mandate stricter age verification for users. The decision comes as part of ongoing tensions between the adult entertainment industry and French lawmakers over privacy concerns and regulatory compliance, according to Le Monde and BBC.

As users attempt to access these sites, they will instead see a message denouncing the privacy implications of the new law, which requires them to verify their age using sensitive information like government IDs or credit cards. Aylo's spokesperson noted that the enforcement of this law could worsen user security by increasing the risk of data breaches, as hackers might exploit the sensitive data shared for age verification, reports India Times and South China Morning Post.

The French regulations require porn publishers to adopt a more reliable age verification system beyond the traditional "click if you are over 18" method. Government officials have noted that about 2.3 million minors accessed these sites each month, highlighting the need for stronger rules to safeguard young users. Aylo argues that this verification should occur at the device level instead, shifting the responsibility to manufacturers like Apple and Google, according to Le Monde and BBC.

In response to Aylo's announcement, France's Digital Affairs Minister Clara Chappaz stated that if the company chooses not to follow the law, they are free to exit the market until they can comply. The new law reflects broader regulatory efforts across Europe and has drawn the scrutiny of EU investigators as well, who are examining whether platforms like Pornhub effectively protect minors, as mentioned in reports by BBC and India Times.