Governor Mark Gordon has signed House Bill 43 (HB 43) into law, making Wyoming the latest state to implement strict age verification requirements for accessing online content deemed “harmful to minors.”

The law, which takes effect July 1, 2025, has drawn praise from supporters advocating for child protection and sharp criticism from civil liberties groups warning of privacy violations and censorship risks.

Unlike similar laws in Louisiana, Texas, and Utah, which specifically target pornographic websites, HB 43 applies to any website that hosts material “harmful to minors”—a vague category that could include not only adult content platforms but also sexual health resources, R-rated movie sites, and even educational materials on sexuality.

The bill requires websites to verify user age before granting access, using one of the following methods:

• U.S. driver’s license, passport, or military ID
• Tribal identification card
• Credit or debit card requiring users to be 18+
• Any other method deemed “reliable” for verifying age

The law also introduces a “bounty-style” enforcement mechanism, allowing parents and guardians of minors to sue websites that fail to comply. If successful, they can claim $5,000 per violation, along with court fees and damages.

Proponents argue that HB 43 is necessary to shield children from the negative effects of pornography and explicit content.

“Many nations across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have implemented strict regulations against pornography, and Wyoming must take similar steps,” said Rep. Dalhatu Tafoki, the bill’s primary sponsor.

Supporters claim that the bill:

• Protects minors from sexually explicit content.
• Holds online platforms accountable for age-restricted content.
• Aligns digital regulations with physical-world restrictions, such as age requirements for purchasing alcohol or tobacco.

Critics, including the ACLU of Wyoming, have strongly condemned the law, arguing that it:

• Threatens First Amendment rights by restricting access to legal, constitutionally protected speech.
• Forces adults to provide personal identification, which could be stored, hacked, or misused by third parties.
• Unfairly burdens websites, potentially forcing small platforms to shut down.
• Could be applied too broadly, affecting not just pornographic sites but also sexual health resources,
• LGBTQ+ organizations, and film streaming services that host R-rated movies.

“HB 43 undermines the privacy and First Amendment rights of Wyomingites. The bill could have a chilling effect on free expression online,” said an ACLU representative.

Wyoming joins a growing number of states that have passed age-verification laws, but real-world data suggests such laws fail to prevent minors from accessing adult content while pushing users toward riskier alternatives.

Pornhub pulled out of Louisiana after traffic dropped 80%, yet users migrated to unregulated platforms with no age restrictions.

VPN usage surged in Utah after similar legislation was enacted, allowing users to easily bypass state-specific content blocks.
“These people did not stop looking for porn,” said Pornhub’s parent company Aylo in response to Louisiana’s law. “They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don’t follow the law, don’t take user safety seriously, and don’t even moderate content.”

While HB 43 claims to protect minors, its broad and vague language could set a precedent for greater government control over online content. Critics fear it could lead to wider censorship efforts, blocking access to information beyond adult entertainment.