Pornhub may resume operations in certain states following the Supreme Court's decision: Source claims
In a significant shift for the adult entertainment industry, Pornhub, the world's most popular porn platform, is expected to implement "government-approved age assurance methods" to comply with new age verification requirements. These changes come in response to recent legal rulings and regulations, such as the Online Safety Act in the UK and the U.S. Supreme Court's stance on laws like the Texas age verification law.
The new methods are designed to be more effective and reliable than the previous simple checkbox confirmations, which are no longer considered sufficient. Pornhub and other adult sites are likely to shift towards multi-factor age verification systems, such as credit card or biometric checks, to accurately verify user ages before allowing access to adult content.
These systems aim to verify age without unnecessary retention of personal data, addressing privacy concerns. However, there are significant challenges and criticisms associated with these new measures. Tech-savvy users may attempt to circumvent age verification using VPNs or other tools, posing a potential risk. Additionally, privacy risks related to data breaches, especially when biometric data like facial scans are involved, have been raised.
Concerns from digital privacy and free speech advocates about the accuracy and data retention of such tools have also been voiced. Requiring a credit card or driver's license for age verification opens up a new avenue for hackers to unmask users, further complicating matters.
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a Texas law that requires pornographic websites to verify users are 18 or older. The case, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, was decided 6-3 along ideological lines, with Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas writing that states have two distinct powers to address obscenity: proscribing speech that is obscene to the public at large and preventing children from accessing speech that is obscene to children.
Justice Thomas stated that states have a specific interest in protecting children from sexually explicit speech. However, the liberal justices disagreed with the reasoning behind the requirement for age verification, arguing that protections for children should be done in the least restrictive way to allow adults to access material they're entitled to see. Elena Kagan, the liberal justice who wrote the dissent, argued that "speech that is obscene for minors is often not so for adults."
Most of the states that currently have age verification requirements are controlled by Republicans, but it's possible that even Democratic-leaning states will pass similar laws. Pornhub started blocking all users from Texas in March 2024 rather than face further fines for non-compliance. A new report suggests that Pornhub's parent company, Aylo Global, might consider conducting age verifications after the Supreme Court ruling.
During a federal court hearing, a lawyer for Aylo Global mentioned that everyone is reevaluating the new landscape after the Supreme Court opinion. If Pornhub decides to implement a way to do age verification, it seems likely that other states will follow. At least 19 states currently have laws on the books requiring user age verification for porn sites.
[1] https://www.wired.com/story/pornhub-age-verification/ [2] https://www.vice.com/en/article/88kd95/pornhub-age-verification-is-coming-and-its-bad-news-for-privacy [3] https://www.zdnet.com/article/pornhub-age-verification-vpn-workaround/ [4] https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkoetsier/2023/02/14/pornhub-age-verification-risks-privacy-data-breaches-and-more/?sh=68b82c827486
- As tech giants continue to evolve, Gizmodo reports that Pornhub's new age verification methods are trending big-wins in the adult entertainment industry, targeting social-media and future technological advancements.
- War-and-conflicts might arise as tech-savvy users try to circumvent age verification using VPNs and other tools, threatening responsible gambling and casino-culture.
- Casino-and-gambling enthusiasts in Las Vegas are closely watching these changes to the general news, while their enjoyment of casino-games like poker could be impacted by policy-and-legislation.
- In vegas-history, gambling-trends have always been influential in the city's entertainment scene, but the implementation of responsible-gambling practices and new legislation could change the landscape.
- The rise of gambling-trends and casino-personalities in politics has accelerated as crime-and-justice issues related to accidents, sports betting, and lotteries become more pronounced.
- The conservative stance of the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of age verification for pornographic websites brings light to how the Court's political views might shape the future of entertainment.
- Pornhub's decision to block all users from Texas could set a precedent for the gambling industry, especially regarding crime-and-justice concerns.
- Sports fans should be aware that the new age verification requirements might trickle down to sports-betting platforms, altering online betting norms.
- Tech companies, privacy advocates, and digital rights groups have sound concerns about the accuracy and data retention of these new age verification systems in relation to policy-and-legislation.
- The Advanced Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) argues that a credit card or driver's license for age verification raises questions of privacy and the potential for data breaches, pointing to several instances of large-scale data leaks in recent years.
- As the gambling industry evolves, it is crucial to maintain responsible-gambling practices and combat any issues of crime-and-justice, ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all participants.
- The combination of tech advancements, policy changes, and news in media like Wired, Vice, ZDNet, and Forbes highlights the broader implications of Pornhub's age verification initiative and its potential impact on various industries.
