March 15, 2024 at 01:18PM
PornHub has added Texas to its blocklist in protest of age verification laws, preventing access to its site. The state’s age verification bill requires adult sites to confirm visitors’re 18 and display a health notice. The company calls for device-based age verification through operating systems, expressing concerns about privacy and potential VPN usage.
Key Takeaways from Meeting Notes:
– PornHub has added Texas to its blocklist in response to a new age verification law.
– Texas’ age verification bill HB 1181 requires adult sites to perform age verification for visitors from Texas and display a health notice regarding the dangers of pornography.
– Attorney General Ken Paxton sued PornHub’s owner for not complying with the laws, seeking significant penalties.
– The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed the law to go into effect but halted the requirement for displaying mental health notices on adult sites.
– In response, PornHub has blocked access to its sites from visitors in Texas and is challenging the law, stating it impinges on adults’ rights and is ineffective.
– PornHub is advocating for device-based age verification through operating systems as a more effective and privacy-protective solution.
– Age verification laws have been shown to drive people to purchase VPNs to bypass restrictions, potentially leading to conflicts with state laws and heightened privacy risks.
Overall, the meeting notes emphasize the legal and operational challenges posed by Texas’ age verification laws, as well as PornHub’s stance on the issue and its proposed alternative approach to age verification.