Pornhub Blocks Access In 17 States Over Privacy Risks

Nearly two years ago, Louisiana passed a law that set off a wave of similar measures across the southern United States, changing how people access adult content online. Today it was reported by 404 Media that  three additional states have joined the 17 already affected by age verification laws, blocking access to Pornhub.

These restrictions, intended to protect children, are raising significant concerns about privacy and censorship for adults.

404 Media explains how the trend began with Louisiana’s “Act 440,” introduced by state representative Laurie Schegel, a counselor specializing in “sex addiction.” The law mandates that websites with adult content should verify users’ ages with government-issued IDs.

Noncompliance can lead to steep fines and lawsuits. Rather than risk these penalties while compromising user privacy, Aylo—the parent company of Pornhub and its network of sites—has chosen to block access in states with these regulations, as noted by 404 Media.

The list of affected states includes Virginia, Montana, North Carolina, Arkansas, Utah, Mississippi, Texas, Nebraska, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, Alabama, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee, and South Carolina. Georgia is next in line, with its own age verification law set to take effect in July.

404 Media says that Louisiana offers a preview of how these laws play out in practice. There, users must verify their age through a state-issued digital driver’s license app before accessing sites like Pornhub.

However, the policy has backfired. Aylo reported that traffic to its sites in Louisiana plummeted by 80%, with many users turning to less regulated platforms lacking basic safeguards against harmful content, according to 404 Media.

This workaround trend isn’t unique to Louisiana. In Florida and other states with similar laws, people are increasingly using VPNs (virtual private networks) to bypass access restrictions, as indicated by spikes in related Google searches.

Critics argue these laws create more problems than they solve. Forcing websites to collect sensitive personal information, such as government IDs, exposes users to significant privacy risks. At the same time, banning access to well-moderated platforms only pushes users toward unregulated and potentially harmful alternatives.

Aylo has been vocal in its opposition to these measures. In a statement, the company emphasized its support for age verification in principle but criticized the implementation of these laws as “ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous.”

404 Media notes that some states are pushing back against these measures. Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a similar bill, arguing it violated First Amendment protections. Meanwhile, legal challenges to these laws are gaining momentum.

In Florida, the Free Speech Coalition has filed a lawsuit, describing the regulations as invasive and a threat to online privacy and freedom, as reported by 404 Media.

“These laws create a substantial burden on adults who want to access legal sites without fear of surveillance,” Alison Boden, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition, stated in a recent press release.

“Despite the claims of the proponents, HB3 is not the same as showing an ID at a liquor store. It is invasive and carries significant risk to privacy. This law and others like it have effectively become state censorship, creating a massive chilling effect for those who speak about, or engage with, issues of sex or sexuality.”