Pornhub pushes for a return to Florida's web browsers
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Pornhub is hoping to return to Floridians' web browsers and search histories by challenging the state's age verification rules for porn sites.
Why it matters: It's been two long years since residents could directly access one of the biggest names in online pornography.
State of play: Pornhub sent a letter to more than 300 state leaders across the country this week — including Gov. Ron DeSantis and Attorney General James Uthmeier — asking for them to rethink or rescind laws that require adult website visitors to verify their age, Politico reported.
- The laws that exist now in roughly half of all states "demonstrably do not work" and effectively fail to shield the minors they were written to protect, plus they put "adults' personal data at risk," Pornhub wrote.
Flashback: A 2024 Florida law required websites that publish content "harmful to minors" (i.e., porn) have to verify that users are 18 or older.
- In response, Pornhub blocked access to its site in Florida, calling the state's photo ID rules unworkable, as it's done in nearly every other state with similar laws.
The other side: State Rep. Michele Rayner, a Democrat from St. Petersburg who co-sponsored the law, told Axios she's still digesting the letter but that Pornhub should take up their issues with the courts.
- A coalition representing the adult industry last year dropped a legal challenge to Florida's law after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a similar law in Texas.
- DeSantis and Uthmeier did not return Axios' requests for comment.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that it has been two years since Floridians could access Pornhub (not three).