Montana and North Carolina have recently topped the list of states with the highest “VPN” searches in the US.
This surge is likely linked to the enactment of new age verification laws on January 1, compelling adult websites in these states to either request government ID copies from visitors or restrict access entirely.
According to 404Media, instead of requesting verification, Pornhub has opted to block access to its website for users in both states.
Similarly, other websites under its parent company Aylo (formerly MindGeek), such as Brazzers, Redtube, and YouPorn, are also no longer reachable.
Accessing Aylo websites in Montana and North Carolina will prompt a video message from performer Cherie DeVille cautioning users that providing ID copies to adult platforms jeopardizes their children’s privacy.
“We believe that the best and most effective solution for protecting children and adults alike is to identify users by their device and allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that identification,” DeVille added.
Users from states with age verification laws, like Montana and North Carolina, encounter the same cautionary video message on Pornhub.
This follows a trend initiated by Louisiana in early 2023, with Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas subsequently passing their versions of these regulations.
North Carolina approved the age verification rule as part of legislation mandating high school students to include computer science classes in their curriculum.
Unlike Aylo-owned sites, other adult websites opt for third-party providers to verify users’ ages instead of imposing regional blocks.
Pornhub, for instance, relies on Louisiana’s digital driver’s license wallet app for identity verification of local users, though compatibility varies as not all states have ID apps compatible with its system.
Traffic in Louisiana dropped by 80% for the website when the state-enforced age verification. This compounds Aylo’s challenges, given their $1.8 million fine in December for hosting explicit content involving sex trafficking victims.
