The War on Porn Regular Updates about the Assault on The Adult Industry
Related Articles
MÜNSTER, Germany — Aylo has secured another legal victory in Germany, with a court ruling that prevents North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Media Authority from enforcing orders requiring internet providers to block access to Pornhub and YouPorn while the underlying legal proceedings continue.
The Higher Administrative Court for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, based in Münster, issued the decision in two preliminary injunction proceedings. In a statement, the court said, “The North Rhine-Westphalia State Media Authority is temporarily barred from ordering a major internet provider to block access to the pornographic websites ‘Pornhub’ and ‘YouPorn’ in Germany.”
“This was decided today by the Higher Administrative Court in two preliminary injunctions,” the court said. The ruling followed an appeal by the state media regulator, led by Tobias Schmid, after a lower court ordered a temporary suspension of the measures that would have resulted in a nationwide block on access to the two websites.
“In response to an appeal by the Cypriot platform operator, the Düsseldorf Administrative Court ruled in two preliminary injunction proceedings that the access provider is not required to block ‘Pornhub’ and ‘YouPorn’ for internet users in Germany until the conclusion of the main proceedings,” the court determined. “The appeals filed by the State Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia against this decision were unsuccessful at the Higher Administrative Court.”
On Nov. 19, 2025, the Administrative Court of Düsseldorf temporarily suspended regulations issued by North Rhine-Westphalia’s State Media Authority that required German internet service providers to block access to Aylo’s websites. The measures were intended to prevent users in Germany from accessing Pornhub and YouPorn.
In its November decision, the Düsseldorf court also found that Germany’s implementation of age verification requirements under the Youth Media Protection Interstate Treaty raised questions about compliance with the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The state regulator had relied on the interstate treaty to establish the requirements, contributing to conflicting court decisions over the legality of the restrictions. The relationship between German and EU law was central to the latest ruling.
“The blocking orders likely violate European Union law,” the court said. “While the pornographic websites’ offerings without age verification are not in accordance with the Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media, the Cyprus-based platform operator cannot be accused of violating these German regulations.”
“National regulation is no longer possible,” the court added. “Insofar as the DSA provides a legal basis for blocking orders, the North Rhine-Westphalia State Media Authority lacks jurisdiction over such measures.”
“The decisions are final,” the court ruled. It also pointed to the EU regulatory framework governing large online platforms, under which Pornhub is designated a “very-large online platform” (VLOP) subject to heightened oversight under the DSA.
Aylo is continuing a separate legal challenge to its classification as a VLOP under the Digital Services Act. The company is seeking to overturn the designation, which subjects Pornhub to additional regulatory obligations and scrutiny related to digital safety.
