Montana joins the list of states where Pornhub has self-imposed a ban
Montana Bans Pornhub Access Ahead of Age Verification Law
Montana has joined the growing list of states where adult content giant Pornhub is blocking access, just before the implementation of an age verification law.
In May, Governor Greg Gianforte (R-MT) signed a bill that revised regulations concerning harmful material for minors and mandated adult content websites to establish age verification procedures.
The legislation received overwhelming bipartisan support, passing the state Senate with a vote of 47-3 and the House with a vote of 84-13. It is scheduled to take effect on Monday.
“While safety and compliance are our top priorities, requiring users to provide their ID every time they visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution. In fact, it puts children and your privacy at risk,” stated a spokesperson for Pornhub.
The law stipulates that Pornhub and other companies must implement a system that accepts government IDs or “any commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify that the person attempting to access the content is at least 18 years old or older.”
Montana is among several states that have enacted age verification laws, leading to Pornhub blocking access.
A lawsuit filed by the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the pornography industry, was dismissed by United States District Judge Ted Stewart in Utah in August. However, it is currently under appeal in the 10th Circuit.
What are the concerns raised by Pornhub regarding the requirement for users to provide their ID every time they visit an adult platform?
Montana has recently become the latest state to block access to the popular adult content website, Pornhub, in anticipation of the implementation of an age verification law. The move comes after Governor Greg Gianforte signed a bill in May, which aimed to revise regulations concerning harmful material for minors and mandated adult content websites to establish age verification procedures.
The legislation received significant support from both sides of the political spectrum, passing the state Senate with a vote of 47-3 and the House with a vote of 84-13. This law is scheduled to take effect on Monday and will require websites like Pornhub to implement a system that accepts government IDs or any commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify that the individual attempting to access the content is at least 18 years old or older.
However, Pornhub has expressed concerns over this approach. A spokesperson for the company stated, “While safety and compliance are our top priorities, requiring users to provide their ID every time they visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution. In fact, it puts children and your privacy at risk.” The company has raised concerns about the potential risks to user privacy and the possibility of children being exposed to harmful content due to this verification method.
Montana is not the only state to enact age verification laws leading to blocking of access to Pornhub. Several other states have also implemented similar measures to protect minors from explicit material online. However, these laws have faced legal challenges. In August, a lawsuit filed by the Free Speech Coalition, a trade association for the pornography industry, was dismissed by United States District Judge Ted Stewart in Utah. Nevertheless, the case is currently under appeal in the 10th Circuit.
The issue of age verification for adult content websites remains a contentious topic, with concerns surrounding the effectiveness of such measures and the potential infringement on user privacy. As more states continue to advocate for stricter regulations, this debate is likely to persist. Ultimately, finding a balance between protecting minors from explicit content and preserving privacy rights will be crucial in developing effective age verification laws for adult websites.
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