Pornhub announced it would restrict access to its website for users in the United Kingdom starting next week, citing the country's stricter age verification requirements under the Online Safety Act (OSA), according to BBC Technology. The adult website provider, Aylo, Pornhub's parent company, stated that the OSA updates "had not achieved its goal of protecting minors" and had instead "diverted traffic to darker, unregulated corners of the internet."
The move came after Aylo reported a 77% decrease in website traffic from the UK following the implementation of the law change in October, BBC Technology reported. Ofcom, the UK's communications regulator, stated at the time that the tougher age checks were fulfilling their intended purpose. From February 2nd, only individuals with pre-existing Pornhub accounts will be able to access the site's content.
In other news, EasyJet was warned by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to cease claiming that carry-on baggage fees were available "from £5.99," according to BBC Business. The ASA stated that EasyJet failed to provide evidence that customers could purchase a carry-on bag for that price. The claim, which appeared on EasyJet's website, was flagged by consumer group Which?, which noted that airlines often advertise low fares but impose additional fees. EasyJet responded by saying, "We always aim to provide clear information to our customers on pricing."
Meanwhile, heightened security measures were reportedly in place for UK delegations traveling to China, The Guardian reported. Keir Starmer's team was issued burner phones, and such precautions were not new, with Theresa May previously advised to dress under a duvet. The article described a "quiet game of cat and mouse" between the two countries, as each tests the other's tradecraft and capabilities.
In the Middle East, Israel's Supreme Court postponed a decision on allowing foreign journalists independent access to Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. The court granted the government until March 31 to respond to a petition filed by the Foreign Press Association, despite state attorneys citing security risks without providing detailed justifications. The legal battle has stretched over a year.
In Haiti, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported a surge in sexual violence cases amid escalating gang violence, Euronews reported. The number of cases being treated at a clinic in Haiti's capital has tripled in the past four years. MSF stated it was "alarmed and outraged" by the overwhelming level of sexual and gender-based violence. "The extent to which numbers have increased, it has shocked us," said Diana Manilla Arroyo, the group's head of mission in Haiti. The country has been plagued by worsening gang violence since the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse, with gangs controlling around 90% of the capital.
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