A growing number of U.S. states are enforcing age verification laws for online pornography, requiring users to present government-issued IDs to access adult content. This regulatory wave, intended to protect children, has led to significant changes in how platforms like Pornhub operate and raised concerns about privacy and online freedom.

Since 2022, 19 U.S. states have enacted laws mandating age verification for pornographic websites. Prominent adult content platform Pornhub has responded by blocking access to its sites in states like Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Utah, Virginia, North Carolina, Montana, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, and Nebraska. With new legislation on the horizon, Pornhub could soon be inaccessible to a third of Americans, particularly in the southern states.

Proponents argue that age verification laws are akin to ID checks for buying cigarettes, aimed at protecting minors from exposure to harmful content.

“It’s very simple,” says Terry Schilling, president of the conservative think tank American Principles Project. “We don’t think kids should be able to access the amount of pornography that they’re able to access today.”

Critics, however, contend that these laws could drive users to more dangerous, unregulated parts of the internet, potentially increasing risks for both children and adults. They also fear that such measures could set a precedent for broader online surveillance and censorship.

Evan Greer, director of the digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future, warns, “This is the canary in the coal mine. It isn’t just about porn. We fundamentally believe it will make kids less safe by cutting them off from information about some of the most important topics in their life.”

The issue has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which is set to review age verification laws following a lawsuit by Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The debate has also become a hot topic in the U.S. presidential election, with Donald Trump’s vice-presidential pick, J.D. Vance, advocating for a complete ban on pornography.

Civil liberties groups argue that mandatory age verification could lead to increased state and corporate surveillance, fundamentally altering how people interact online. “Age verification imposes a burden on adults’ ability to access content,” says ACLU attorney Vera Eidelman. “Combined, it means people will be much more hesitant to engage with content that is legal to access.”

While most people in the adult industry agree with the principle of age verification, they criticize the current laws as ineffective.

“Pornhub is in favor of the concept of age verification. Full stop,” says Alex Kekesi, vice president of brand and community at Aylo. However, he points out that users can easily bypass state-specific regulations using virtual private networks (VPNs).

Some experts advocate for device-based age verification, where age checks are built into smartphones and computers, rather than imposed at the website level. This method, they argue, could be more secure and privacy-friendly. However, implementing such a system would require collaboration between technology companies, governments, and online platforms.

The debate is not limited to the U.S. The UK, EU, Australia, and parts of Asia are also considering similar regulations, potentially reshaping the global internet landscape. The UK’s Online Safety Act, for instance, will impose age restrictions on a wide range of online platforms, sparking debates about privacy and freedom of expression.