Pornhub Blocks 16 States Over Age Verification Laws
The adult site protests ID requirements, citing privacy risks and user safety concerns.
- Pornhub and other Aylo-owned websites have blocked access in 16 U.S. states, including Florida and South Carolina, following the implementation of age verification laws requiring government-issued ID.
- Aylo argues these laws are ineffective, drive users to unregulated and unsafe sites, and pose significant privacy risks by requiring the storage of sensitive personal information.
- Searches for VPNs have surged in states impacted by the blocks, with users seeking to bypass restrictions despite warnings about potential cybersecurity risks from unreliable VPN apps.
- The Free Speech Coalition has legally challenged age verification laws in several states, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to hear a case on Texas's law later this month to determine its constitutionality under the First Amendment.
- Critics of the laws, including Aylo and digital rights groups, advocate for alternative solutions like device-level filters to protect children without compromising user privacy and online safety.
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