A new Ohio law requires a photo ID or other verification to access porn online. But Pornhub says the new rules don’t apply to its business.
Pornhub hasn’t shut down in Ohio or enabled the age verification required by the law, which took effect Sept. 30, Mashable reported.
Under Ohio law, organizations that sell or present materials or performances “obscene or harmful to juveniles” must check users’ ages with a photo ID or other records, such as mortgage or employment data. Companies that fail to comply risk a lawsuit.
But the law doesn’t apply to “interactive computer services,” a broad term that courts have ruled includes Google, Meta and other web hosting platforms. Generally, these companies aren’t liable for third-party content published on their sites.
Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, told Mashable the same exception applies to its business.
“It is our understanding that we are not subject to the obligations under (the new Ohio law) regarding mandated age verification for the ‘interactive computer services’ we provide, such as Pornhub,” Aylo said in a statement.
Republican lawmakers and groups like the Center for Christian Virtue championed the change.
“Parents need to be empowered to protect the innocence of their children,” Center for Christian Virtue’s David Mahan said in 2023. “This legislation is another vitally important step towards putting the safety of children over the financial aspirations of predatory industries.”
Pornhub is blocked in more than 20 states and multiple countries, including recently in France, because of age-verification laws and other restrictions.
Contributing: Chad Murphy
State government reporter Jessie Balmert can be reached at jbalmert@gannett.com or @jbalmert on X.