Pornhub Disables Site in Texas Over Online Age Verification Law
In a bold move, Pornhub has taken its site offline in Texas, citing the state’s recently enacted online age verification law. Users attempting to access the site from within the state are now greeted with a message stating that requiring an ID to access adult content online “is not an effective solution for protecting users online.”
Texas Age Verification Law Draws Criticism
The Texas age verification law, passed last year, mandates that adult websites display health warnings claiming that pornography can impair “human brain development” and other unsubstantiated issues. The law also requires these sites to verify a user’s age locally on their device.
Alex Kekesi, vice president of brand and community at Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, shared his concerns in an emailed statement to The Zero Byte:
Unfortunately the Texas law for age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Not only will it not actually protect children, it will inevitably reduce content creators’ ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey with it.
Potential Challenges Beyond the US
Pornhub’s troubles may extend beyond the United States. The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) has classified Pornhub and other adult sites as “Very Large Online Platforms,” which could require them to implement age verification measures and remove illegal content. In response, Pornhub has filed a lawsuit against the EU over this designation, as reported by Politico.
As the debate surrounding online age verification and content regulation continues, it remains to be seen how adult content platforms like Pornhub will navigate the evolving legal landscape while balancing user privacy and content creators’ rights.
2 Comments
Wow, Pornhub’s taking a bold stand, huh? Texas is in for a surprise!
Texas just learned the hard way, you can’t mess with Pornhub without consequences.