Pornhub urges Iowa to repeal age-verification law
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Pornhub is pressing Iowa to repeal the state’s age-verification law for adult websites.
Why it matters: The dispute pits Iowa’s effort to restrict minors’ access to pornography against concerns that the law is invasive, easy to evade and could expose adults’ personal information.
Driving the news: Pornhub sent a letter last week to more than 300 lawmakers, governors and attorneys general across nearly 30 states with age-verification laws, as first reported by Politico.
- The company called the state laws “performative, ineffective and unenforceable” and asked officials, including Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird, to disclose evidence showing how many minors the requirements have protected.
Catch up quick: Reynolds signed House File 864, which requires porn sites and their apps to confirm that users are at least 18. It took effect July 1.
- Sites must verify ages through digital identification, transactional data or another method approved by Bird’s office.
Zoom in: Iowa lawmakers overwhelmingly approved the law, with the Senate voting unanimously and the House approving the final version 82-2.
The fine print: Bird’s office can seek injunctions and impose penalties of up to $1,000 per violation, capped at $10,000 per day.
- Enforcement is expected to be largely complaint-driven while the office develops administrative rules, the Register reports.
What they’re saying: Jen Green, Bird's communications director, called Pornhub's letter self-serving and said the company is seeking to avoid "common-sense age verification tools designed to protect children."
The other side: Pornhub wants age restrictions placed on devices through companies such as Apple, Google and Microsoft, arguing that approach would be harder to circumvent with virtual private networks.
What we’re watching: Whether Pornhub or other adult-content companies sue Iowa, as the industry has challenged similar age-verification laws in Texas and Utah.