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Starting January 1, 2025, residents of Florida will lose access to Pornhub, the most visited adult content platform in the world.
This measure, announced by Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, is a response to the enactment of law HB3, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, which establishes stringent requirements for age verification on websites that offer content classified as "harmful for minors." This means that users will have to provide personal information to verify their age.
Pornhub has strongly criticized this legislation, deeming it invasive and dangerous to user privacy.
Since the announcement of law HB3, Pornhub has started issuing warnings to users in Florida who access its website. In these messages, the platform informs users about the impending loss of access and criticizes the provisions of the law, stating that the age verification requirements pose a threat to privacy.
"Did you know that your government wants you to present your driver's license before you can access PORNHUB? As crazy as it sounds, it's true. […] We don’t want minors accessing our site, and we believe that preventing this is a good thing. However, compromising everyone's privacy won't achieve that," the message states.
According to the company, the law will not only fail to achieve its goals of protecting minors, but it could also have a negative impact on internet safety for both adults and children.
What is the HB3 law?
The HB3 law aims to protect minors by regulating access to social media and adult content on the Internet.
Although it does not explicitly mention the word "pornography," the text of the law defines "harmful material for minors" as that which: "appeals to lascivious interests," offensively represents or describes sexual conduct, and lacks literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors.
The regulations state that websites featuring this type of content must implement age verification systems that require users to prove they are 18 years or older by presenting official documents such as a driver's license.
Platforms that fail to comply will face fines of up to $50,000 per violation and may be subject to civil lawsuits with compensation of up to $10,000 for damages.
Additionally, the law prohibits individuals under the age of 14 and 15 from creating accounts, uploading content, or consuming material on social media without the authorization of their parents or guardians.
Although the measure aims to protect minors, it has been widely criticized for its implications for privacy and access to online content.
Pornhub responds with restrictions in Florida
Pornhub has directed its users to an editorial written by its marketing director, Alexzandra Kekesi, and to a three-minute explanatory video on YouTube, where safer alternatives for age verification are presented, such as device-based systems.
Kekesi argues that, while the company supports the protection of minors, the implementation of laws such as HB3 is counterproductive
"The way in which many jurisdictions have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, arbitrary, and dangerous. […] These measures shift traffic from responsible platforms that comply with regulations to illegal and unregulated sites, creating a more hazardous environment for everyone."
According to Kekesi, the consequences of this legislation could include increased access to websites that do not verify ages or moderate content, resulting in "a less safe internet with serious additional risks to privacy."
Similar legislation in other states
Pornhub's decision in Florida is not an isolated case.
The platform has restricted access in another 12 states that have passed similar laws, such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana, and Indiana.
In Louisiana, where similar legislation took effect in July 2023, Pornhub implemented an age verification system that resulted in an 80% drop in traffic.
However, according to Aylo, this did not reduce pornography consumption; instead, it pushed users to "darker corners of the internet" where "users are not asked to verify their age, laws are not enforced, and often, content isn't even moderated."
The spokesperson for Aylo noted that these migrations increase the risks of exposure to unsafe and unregulated material, as well as compromising online safety for both adults and minors.
The Free Speech Coalition is suing the HB3 law
The Free Speech Coalition, an organization that represents the interests of the adult entertainment industry, filed a challenge against HB3 in the Northern District Court of Florida.
The executive director of the organization, Alison Boden, argued that laws such as HB3 impose unnecessary barriers for adults seeking access to legal content
“These laws place a significant burden on adults who wish to access legal sites without fear of surveillance. (…) In practice, they have effectively become state censorship, creating a massive chilling effect for those who speak out or engage in issues of sex or sexuality.”
The organization also emphasized that it has filed similar lawsuits against laws in other states, such as Tennessee, Texas, and Utah. In the case of Texas, the lawsuit is set to reach the Supreme Court in January 2025, which could establish a national precedent.
The debate between privacy and regulation
Although Pornhub and its parent company, Aylo, have publicly supported age verification as a measure to protect minors, they criticize current regulations for compromising user privacy and driving traffic towards unregulated platforms.
According to Aylo, "in practice, these laws have only made the Internet more dangerous for adults and children."
The HB3 and other similar laws have sparked a broader debate on how to balance the protection of minors with the right to privacy for adults.
While proponents of these regulations argue that they are necessary to create a safer digital environment, critics warn about their negative impact on digital rights and freedom of expression.
The Importance of Pornhub in the Digital Ecosystem
Pornhub, ranked as the nineteenth most visited domain in the world, plays a significant role in the debate over internet regulation. According to data from Similar Web, it is the most widely visited adult content platform globally.
However, its history is not without controversy. In 2020, an investigation by The New York Times revealed the presence of non-consensual content related to sex trafficking on the site, prompting the company to remove millions of videos and restrict uploads to verified users.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Pornhub Block in Florida and Law HB3
Why will Pornhub be blocked in Florida starting in 2025?
Pornhub will be blocked in Florida due to the HB3 law, which mandates strict age verification to access content deemed "harmful to minors." The platform has chosen not to comply with these requirements for reasons of user privacy and security.
What does the HB3 law in Florida entail, and how does it affect users?
The HB3 law in Florida mandates that websites with adult content must implement systems to verify that users are over 18 years old, using official documents like a driver's license. This measure impacts user privacy and has been criticized for pushing individuals towards less secure and unregulated platforms.
What alternatives does Pornhub propose in response to law HB3?
Pornhub suggests using more secure age verification systems, such as those based on devices, instead of requiring personal identification documents. The platform argues that these alternatives would better protect users' privacy.
What legal actions have been taken against the HB3 law?
The Free Speech Coalition has filed a challenge against law HB3 in the Northern District Court of Florida, arguing that the legislation imposes unnecessary barriers for adults seeking to access legal content and constitutes a form of state censorship.
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