Pornhub is set to become unavailable to users in five additional states due to the implementation of age verification laws on adult entertainment websites. The company announced through a blog post that starting July, access to the website will be blocked in Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska. This decision follows the blocking of seven other states over the past year, including Texas, Utah, Arkansas, Virginia, Montana, North Carolina, and Mississippi.
These new laws are being enacted to protect minors from accessing adult content online by requiring users to verify their age with a government-issued ID before being able to view such content. While the intentions behind these laws are good, they have sparked controversy, with some states labeling pornography as a public health crisis.
In the blog post, Pornhub also raised concerns about the privacy issues and the risk of identity theft associated with age verification processes. The company pointed out the potential for data breaches and exploitation by scammers due to the submission of personal information on adult websites.
Pornhub emphasized the importance of safety and compliance but criticized other adult content sites for lacking the same level of protection. The company called for age verification to be done through operating systems on devices rather than through potentially risky online processes.
In an effort to advocate for a better approach to age verification, Pornhub encouraged its community to speak out on social media and engage with local governments to push for safer solutions. The company highlighted the importance of normalizing sexual expression and sex work, urging individuals to be vocal about their rights and engage in important conversations to bring about change.
