Pornhub, one of the most popular adult websites in the world, has announced that it will block access to users in Utah. This decision comes after Utah passed a new law that requires all online adult film providers to implement an age verification system or face civil penalties.
The law, which was signed by Governor Spencer Cox on March 23, 2023, aims to prevent minors from accessing harmful material online and to protect them from sexual exploitation. The law also requires internet service providers to filter out adult film sites by default unless customers opt out. The new rules require a minor to have parental consent before accessing social media platforms like TikTok, along with adult film websites.
Pornhub, which claims to have over 130 million daily visitors worldwide, said that it respects the law and wants to cooperate with the authorities. However, it also expressed concerns about the privacy and security of its users, as well as the potential impact on free speech and expression. Many experts believe the new law could lead to Utah residents having to provide government issued IDs for age verification.
“As you may know, your elected officials in Utah are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website. While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk”, Pornhub said in a statement.
They continued, “In addition, mandating age verification without proper enforcement gives platforms the opportunity to choose whether or not to comply. As we’ve seen in other states, this just drives traffic to sites with far fewer safety measures in place. Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Utah”.
On social media the reactions are expectedly very mixed. Some people are praising you Utah for taking a stance, because they believe that adult film sites are harmful in general. Others who a criticizing Utah officials feel this is another attempt to reduce people’s freedom, and an invasion of privacy.
How do you feel about Utah’s new law?
