French users of Pornhub, YouPorn, and RedTube woke up to a surprise on Wednesday: access to these popular adult content platforms was suspended.

The move, confirmed by a Pornhub spokesperson, is a direct response to France’s new age verification requirements for pornographic websites. The spokesperson stated that Aylo, the parent company behind these platforms and several others in the adult entertainment industry, made the “difficult decision” to suspend access.

“We will be using our platforms to directly address the French public tomorrow,” the spokesperson added, hinting at a planned communication outlining the company’s position.

The French regulator, Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique), has the power to block websites and impose significant fines if it deems their age verification measures inadequate. This regulatory pressure appears to be the driving force behind Aylo’s decision to pull its platforms from the French market, at least temporarily.

The situation highlights the ongoing tension between online adult content providers and governments striving to enforce stricter age verification protocols. The coming days will be crucial in seeing how this high-profile suspension unfolds and what steps, if any, Aylo will take to regain access to the French market.