Pornhub Blocked in 23 US States and 2 Countries Amid Age Verification Laws

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In an effort to keep minors away from adult content, a number of US states and several countries have implemented age-verification requirements for websites like Pornhub. As a result, Pornhub's parent company Aylo has blocked access to its sites, including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, in 23 US states and the UK and France. The company argues the laws are "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous" and has taken legal action, but some states have prevailed in court. While VPNs can help users bypass the restrictions, doing so may raise privacy issues.

Why it matters

The battle over age verification for adult websites highlights the ongoing tensions between protecting minors, preserving privacy, and regulating the internet. These laws aim to limit underage access to pornography, but critics argue they are ineffective, compromise user privacy, and drive traffic to less responsible sites. The outcome could set precedents for how online content is regulated in the future.

The details

The age-verification requirements vary by state, but generally require adult websites to use "reasonable" methods to confirm visitors are 18 or older, such as providing government IDs or accessing commercial age-verification systems. Failure to comply can result in hefty fines or lawsuits. In response, Pornhub's parent company Aylo has blocked access to its sites in 23 US states, as well as the UK and France, arguing the laws are misguided. However, some states like Texas have successfully defended their laws in court, dealing a blow to Aylo's legal challenges.

• In 2023, Louisiana passed the first age-verification law, leading Pornhub to comply and see an 80% drop in traffic in the state.
• In 2024, age-verification laws went into effect in Alabama, Indiana, and Tennessee, among other states.
• In June 2024, the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Texas's age-verification law, HB 1181, which was set to go into effect in September 2023.
• On February 2, 2026, Aylo blocked access to its sites for new users in the UK due to the country's Online Safety Act.
• Effective February 2, 2026, new users in the UK will no longer be able to access Aylo's content sharing platforms.

What’s next

The judge in the Texas case will decide on Tuesday whether to continue allowing the state to enforce its age-verification law, HB 1181, which could impact the legal challenges in other states.