**Pornhub Restricts Access in 16 U.S. States Due to Age-Verification Legislation**
With the start of the new year, Pornhub has limited access to its site in 16 U.S. states, mainly as a reaction to the introduction of age-verification legislation. These regulations mandate that users provide identification to view sites where explicit material represents more than one-third of the content available.
This movement originated in Louisiana two years prior, with additional states swiftly adopting similar measures. As of January 1, analogous laws have been enacted in Florida and South Carolina, leading Pornhub to block access in these and additional states. As reported by 404 Media, this initiative has significantly restricted access to Pornhub throughout much of the Southern United States.
### States Where Pornhub Access Is Unavailable
A representative from Pornhub confirmed to Mashable that the platform is currently inaccessible in the following states:
– Alabama
– Arkansas
– Florida
– Idaho
– Indiana
– Kansas
– Kentucky
– Mississippi
– Montana
– Nebraska
– North Carolina
– Oklahoma
– South Carolina
– Texas
– Utah
– Virginia
Notably, Louisiana stands out as an exception. Although Pornhub has not restricted access there, the state’s ID verification requirement has resulted in an 80% decrease in traffic, according to Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub.
### Aylo’s Reservations Concerning Age-Verification Laws
Aylo has voiced significant concerns regarding the current age-verification laws being implemented. In a statement to Mashable, the company underscored that while it endorses age verification conceptually, the current regulations are flawed and could have harmful effects.
“These laws have not deterred individuals from seeking adult content,” Aylo remarked. “Rather, users are gravitating towards less regulated parts of the internet that do not verify age, do not adhere to regulations, and do not prioritize user safety. This has made the online environment more perilous for both adults and minors.”
Aylo further criticized the necessity for adult websites to gather sensitive personal information, claiming it endangers user privacy and security. The company supports the creation of more robust and privacy-conscious solutions, such as device-level filters, to safeguard children while preserving online anonymity.
### Challenges to Age-Verification Legislation
Opponents of age-verification legislation, inclusive of industry specialists, argue that such initiatives are easily circumvented via VPNs. They also express concerns about the implications of storing individuals’ personal information, which could threaten free speech and online anonymity.
The Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry trade organization, has been actively contesting these laws across several states, including Florida, Indiana, and Texas. In Tennessee, the organization successfully secured a preliminary injunction to halt the implementation of the state’s age-verification law, which was scheduled to commence on January 1. Consequently, Pornhub has not imposed access restrictions in Tennessee.
In Texas, the Free Speech Coalition’s legal struggle has escalated to the U.S. Supreme Court. On January 15, the Court will hear arguments in *Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton*, a case that will assess whether Texas’s age-verification law infringes upon the First Amendment.
### Wider Consequences and Future Apprehensions
The adult industry is also wary of the likelihood of more stringent regulations under a potential second Trump administration. Project 2025, a conservative policy framework, features proposals to completely prohibit pornography. One of its contributors, Russell Vought, was reportedly overheard describing age-verification laws as a means to further this larger objective.
As discussions about age-verification regulations persist, the adult industry and advocates for privacy are urging lawmakers to explore alternative solutions that reconcile child protection with user privacy and safety. For the time being, Pornhub’s choice to restrict access in 16 states highlights the escalating friction between regulatory efforts and the difficulties of effective implementation.