The world’s most popular adult website, Pornhub, blocked Florida residents from accessing its content due to a new state law requiring age verification. The law, House Bill 3 (HB 3), took effect on Jan. 1, 2025, and mandated stricter measures to protect minors from accessing explicit content.
Pornhub’s stance on privacy and safety
Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, announced its decision to block the site rather than comply with the law’s requirements. A video message now greets Florida users attempting to access the site, explaining the company’s stance. The video highlights concerns that using identification cards for age verification could compromise user privacy and potentially put
children at greater risk. The message argues that without proper enforcement, platforms may selectively comply with the law. It warns that similar legislation in other states has driven users to less secure websites lacking robust safety measures. Aylo suggests that device-based verification offers a more effective solution for protecting both children’s and user’s privacy. Until such measures are implemented, the company has chosen to disable access in Florida entirely.
Key provisions of HB 3
HB 3 , signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis on March 25, 2024, requires adult websites to offer both anonymous and standard
age verification. Anonymous verification must be handled by an independent, nongovernmental third party that is prohibited from retaining or sharing personal information. Websites that fail to comply face fines of up to $50,000 per violation, along with potential civil liability and attorney fees.
Governor and lawmakers defend the legislation
During a news conference in Jacksonville, DeSantis defended the law, citing the dangers of unregulated access to explicit material. “You can have a kid in the house safe, seemingly, and then you have predators that can get right in there into your own home,” he said. “You could be doing everything right but they know how to get and manipulate these different platforms.” DeSantis initially vetoed an earlier version of the bill over legal and parental rights concerns but later supported the revised legislation. Former House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, who helped craft the law, emphasized its focus on protecting children. “Adults can do whatever they want, I don’t care. But 8-year-old boys should not be accessing hard-core pornography at that age,” he said.
Broader impact and statewide context
Pornhub’s decision follows similar actions in other states. Before Florida, the platform had blocked access in 14 states, including
Texas , Utah, and Virginia, due to age verification laws. Recently, Tennessee and South Carolina joined Florida, and Georgia is set to adopt similar requirements in July 2025. 17 US states block
#Pornhub , age verification now required for porn sites. Raises concerns about data privacy & security. Pornhub launched in 2007, saw over 11.4 billion global visits in January 2024, according to
Statista . Nearly 97% of its traffic came from mobile devices. Despite its popularity, the platform now faces growing restrictions as more states adopt stricter online safety measures. While Pornhub has taken a clear stance against the Florida law, other adult content websites have yet to announce their plans. Users attempting to bypass access restrictions may rely on virtual private networks (VPNs), although such methods do not guarantee compliance with state laws.
