Pornhub is one of the world’s largest adult websites. Which has taken a bold step in response to a new age verification law passed in Utah. The website has blocked access to users from the state. The new age-verification law passed by the Utah officials didnt sit right with the website. In turn, Pornhub took this action a protest against the law.
Pormhub’s stance on the situation
Anyone with a Utah based IP address cannot access the website anymore. Instead, the users get video of adult performer, Cherie DeVille. The video is mainly their to explain the users of the situation.
The platform seems displeased with law that mandates the user to verify their age. This has to be done every time a user accesses the website. DeVille says “safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission”. But she argues that this is not the best way to do so. She also adds, “…in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk.”
Parent company MindGeek, put the same messages on other adult websites like Brazzers, Redtube and Youporn.
The state laws now requires websites to verify every users age before they can access the website. This apples to not just adult websites, but social media platforms too. Utah state officials say, this is to prevent minors from accessing these websites. Companies who dont comply, will be liable to get sued. However, executives at Pornhub argue that this will not solve the problem. While these laws will prevent minors from accessing some sites, there are unregulated sites which will never comply with these laws.
With the law in act, those other websites will get a rise in traffic because of restriction to the other regulated websites. These others websites, dont fear civil liability in USA. This is because most of them operate from outside the country. These “unregulated” websites can also contain illegal content. And since, other people will go other these websites, this can increase the risks of identity theft or hacking.
It remains to be seen what impact this will have on Utah’s lawmakers. Whether they will be willing to revisit the law and make changes that address the concerns raised by Pornhub.
