Pornhub Blocks Users in Montana and North Carolina

In response to the implementation of new age verification laws in Montana and North Carolina, adult entertainment giant Pornhub has decided to block users in these two states from accessing the platform. The move is part of an ongoing battle against state-level regulations that require online adult content platforms to verify their visitors' age.

Montana's Senate Bill 544, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, mandates the implementation of an age verification system on websites featuring a substantial amount of adult material. The law allows individuals to file civil lawsuits against platforms failing to comply.

Similarly, North Carolina's recently enacted verification rules also demand a "commercially reasonable" age and identity verification process for adult sites, with potential civil lawsuits on the horizon for non-compliant platforms.

In response to these regulations, Pornhub (owned by Aylo) asserts that the requirements infringe upon the First Amendment and privacy rights of adult customers. The company argues that the process of providing identification for every visit is too intrusive and instead advocates for device-based age verification.

A video message from adult performer Cherie DeVille now greets users attempting to access Aylo-owned websites from Montana and North Carolina, explaining the decision behind the block and emphasizing concerns about child safety and user privacy.

This latest move affects approximately 11.6 million people in the US, with over one million residents in Montana and 10.5 million in North Carolina no longer able to access Pornhub. Both states have seen a surge in searches for VPNs as users seek ways to bypass the restrictions imposed by the age verification laws, raising concerns about such users getting tricked into using risky VPN services, such as malicious Chrome extensions or free VPNs.

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Montana and North Carolina join a growing list of states, including Louisiana, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas, where similar age verification laws have been enacted. In Texas, a law requiring age verification for adult websites was struck down by a US District Judge in 2023, citing violations of free speech rights, overbreadth, and privacy concerns related to traceable government-issued identification.

The company continues to advocate for alternative verification solutions and is collaborating with tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft to develop such industry-wide standards. The broader implications of these battles extend not only across the US but also to international markets, where Pornhub faces additional scrutiny and regulations, particularly in the EU.