Pornhub Blocks Access in Arizona Over New Age Verification Law

Pornhub has begun blocking users in Arizona following the state’s recent implementation of strict age verification protocols. Those unable to access adult sites might resort to, well, some less regulated parts of the internet, which feels like a rather troubling consequence.

This well-known platform, based in Montreal and one of the most visited sites globally, criticizes Arizona’s new requirements as “ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous,” suggesting they might cause more harm than good.

The law is set to take effect this Friday. Users will need to verify their age by uploading a government-issued ID, credit card, or a personal photo. This new stipulation targets sites that feature at least 30% explicit content, which lawmakers argue is “harmful to minors.”

Pornhub contends that the rationale behind the law is flawed. They believe that instead of using the site, users may turn to darker corners of the internet for adult content, which raises some serious safety concerns.

“This isn’t just a theory. We’ve observed similar patterns in the U.S.,” stated the company’s parent organization, Iro. In Louisiana, for instance, Pornhub noticed an 80% drop in traffic after similar verification laws were introduced.

“People didn’t stop searching for adult content. They simply migrated to less regulated websites that often disregard user safety and age verification altogether,” they added.

Iro asserts that while they support age verification, such measures should ideally be managed from the user’s device rather than enforced on the website itself.

Arizona’s law is not an isolated case. Similar regulations have been established in various other states, leading Pornhub to block access in 21 states under comparable circumstances. States like Florida, Virginia, and Tennessee are notable examples.

Despite Pornhub’s resistance to the new law, Arizona lawmakers remain undeterred, expressing strong support for the legislation. “As a parent of four, I understand how crucial it is to safeguard children from harmful content,” said Rep. Nick Kupper (R), the bill’s author.

This new law comes with hefty penalties: a $10,000 fine for each day a website fails to implement age verification, which can culminate in fines up to $250,000 for allowing minors access without proper checks.

Legal challenges against age verification laws are ongoing in various states, and regulations from Texas are currently heading to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.

“The law serves to protect children from explicit content,” wrote Judge Clarence Thomas in a majority opinion, reflecting the serious intent behind these measures.