Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has set his sights on two more adult content providers, xHamster and Chaturbate, accusing them of flouting the state’s stringent age verification laws.

Not only do they want nearly $2 million from each website, but an additional $10,000 a day each day that passes since the lawsuit was filed.

Filed in Travis County, the civil lawsuits mark the latest chapter in Texas’s legal skirmish against internet pornography platforms.

The legal actions demand that the courts enforce a permanent injunction against these websites, compelling them to align with House Bill 1181. This legislation, effective since September 1 of the previous year, mandates rigorous age verification processes to shield minors from sexually explicit materials.

The move comes on the heels of Pornhub, a titan in the adult entertainment industry, voluntarily restricting access to its services in Texas—a decision Paxton hailed as a victory for child protection.

He took to his X account to underscore the state’s unyielding stance against exposing children to pornographic content, stating, “In Texas, companies cannot get away with showing porn to children. If they don’t want to comply, good riddance.”

According to the state’s filings, both xHamster and Chaturbate fall short of HB 1181’s requirements, offering only superficial barriers to underage access. Specifically, the suit against xHamster criticizes the site’s reliance on a simple pop-up message asking users to confirm they are over 18—a measure the Attorney General’s Office deems wholly inadequate for true age verification.

The state’s legal documents detail the fines sought from the defendants, with penalties reaching up to $1.67 million for xHamster and an even steeper $1.78 million for Chaturbate. In addition, Texas is pushing for a daily fine of $10,000 from each company for continued non-compliance since the lawsuit’s filing.

In a move that surprises no one, VPN usage has surged in Texas by a reported 235%.

As the battle lines are drawn, the adult entertainment industry and digital rights observers are closely monitoring these developments. These lawsuits not only highlight the legal complexities surrounding online content regulation but also set a precedent for how states might enforce digital age restrictions in the future.

Representatives for the parent companies of xHamster and Chaturbate have yet to comment on the lawsuits.

The outcome of these lawsuits could have far-reaching implications, potentially reshaping the landscape of adult content consumption in Texas and beyond.

Stay tuned to Fleshbot for further updates as this legal drama unfolds, casting a spotlight on the intersection of digital freedom, child protection, and the responsibilities of online platforms in the digital age.

• Follow xHamster on Twitter at @xhamstercom
• Follow Chaturbate on Twitter at @chaturbate