The Pornhub Utah VPN phenomenon is unwrapping into a new wave of outrage in the US state. What seemed like easy access to pornographic videos just a few months ago is now turning into an uphill battle.
It turns out that Utah has been googling the term VPN the most these days! The statement draws attention because the move was not triggered by some desperate need for privacy but due to Pornhub’s decision to block its access in the US state.
The reason? Utah administration made it mandatory to restrict access to the site to adults, and the onus of verification was placed on the pornography website. In other words, if a minor accesses Pornhub, the website will be in (regulatory) soup!
The Pornhub Utah VPN phenomenon
Utah, a landlocked US state, took a bold step in protecting its young generation from being exposed to pornography by introducing a new law that mandates age verification for adult websites.
The legislation, which goes by the name SB287, required online platforms to verify that any visitor from the state is of legal age before granting access to explicit content.
This move by Utah aligned with a similar regulation already implemented in Louisiana, which has proven successful in safeguarding minors from accessing harmful material.
Since the law requires adult entertainment sites to comply with the Utah state, many failed to follow through.
This automatically puts these companies in a state of distress because failing to comply would result in them being liable for any damages caused to minors who gain access to adult content through their website.
The groundbreaking legislation seeks to curb the negative impact of pornography on young people and prevent them from being exposed to explicit material that could have long-lasting effects on their psychological and emotional well-being.
Instead of going the extra mile to restrict access and risk penalty in case anyone flouted the rule, PorHub simply decided to vanish from the state.
Pornhub Utah VPN outrage explained
The adult entertainment industry has been thrown into a frenzy by implementing a new law requiring all visitors to adult websites from Utah to verify their age.
This has caused concerns for adult entertainment companies scrambling to comply with the new legislation.
One major player in the industry, MindGeek, has taken drastic measures in verifying the age of every visitor from Utah.
The company has blocked access to its websites, including popular platforms like Pornhub, RedTube, YouPorn, Brazzers, and Reality Kings, as reported by Information Security Buzz.
This move is bold, considering that MindGeek’s network of websites has an average daily visitor count of over 125 million and 100 billion video views annually.
The decision to restrict access to its platform in Utah indicates the company’s intention to prioritize the safety and privacy of its users.
However, it also highlights the complexities of age verification for adult websites. While it is essential to protect minors from accessing explicit content, using official identification cards or third-party age verification services has raised concerns about user privacy and data protection.
Experts have suggested device-based age verification solutions as a more effective alternative to ID checks, but enforcing such measures across all adult websites remains a challenge.
Until a viable and satisfactory solution is found, the debate over how best to regulate and safeguard access to adult content will continue.
The Pornhub Utah VPN situation: Customers have spoken!
In response to the new regulation, Pornhub has implemented a block on visitors accessing the site from an IP address based in Utah, which went into effect on Monday. Affected users will be redirected to a message that expresses firm opposition to the regulation.
However, data from Google Trends shows a surge in Google search inquiries for “virtual private network” or VPN in Utah since early Tuesday morning.
VPN software allows individuals to conceal their IP address, providing a means to still access the site within the state.
Google Trends data indicates that search queries for VPN reached their peak popularity in Utah shortly before 4 a.m. EST on Tuesday. Additionally, searches for VPN extensions like Hola and Fox Speed have increased over the past week.
Pornhub, Utah, and VPNs: Blurred lines
As Utah implements new legislation to curb the negative impact of pornography on minors, it marks a significant step forward in the battle to protect the vulnerable from harmful content.
However, this positive move comes with its fair share of challenges and complexities, especially when verifying the age of visitors to adult websites.
As technology advances at a breakneck pace, policymakers need to stay ahead of the curve and find innovative ways to balance the need to protect minors with user privacy and data protection concerns.
With the rise of new privacy threats and the need for increased regulation, it’s more critical than ever to find a delicate balance between protecting the vulnerable and safeguarding the rights of all users.
Ultimately, it’s clear that the journey toward finding a viable and satisfactory solution to this age-old problem is far from over.
As we continue to grapple with the complexities of age verification, we must remain vigilant and innovative in our approach, always striving to find new and better ways to protect the most vulnerable members of our society.