Searches for VPN software saw a significant increase in Texas this week following Pornhub's decision to suspend service in the state due to a new law requiring adult websites to verify user age or identity.
The surge in Google searches for tools that can bypass the state-level blocking indicates that the law may be causing unintended consequences, especially after a federal appeals court upheld the legislation and allowed it to continue.
Visitors from Texas seeing Pornhub's website will now see a full-page message criticizing the state's law as ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous.
The message explains that due to the lack of a better solution, access to the website in Texas has been disabled. The decision is made in compliance with the law, but the hope is for governments globally to create laws that truly prioritize the safety and security of users.
Search interest in VPNs saw a significant increase in Texas on Thursday, compared to the rest of the country. This surge quadrupled in the hours following Pornhub’s announcement, before slightly decreasing by early Friday morning.
Although Google Trends only indicates correlations between events and provides a snapshot of relative search interest, the sudden spike in searches, particularly concentrated in Texas, suggests a possible link between the law and Pornhub’s users.
Evan Greer, director of Fight for the Future, a digital rights advocacy group, believes that a link "seems pretty likely."
Greer pointed out that the recent increase in VPN searches in Texas indicates that age verification laws are not only unconstitutional but also ineffective. He compared Texans using VPNs to bypass state government regulations to people in countries like China, Russia, and Turkey who use similar tools to circumvent online censorship.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), a digital rights group, mentioned that Texas is not the only state experiencing an increase in searches due to age verification laws. According to Hudson Hongo, a spokesperson for the group, similar search spikes have been observed in other states that have implemented age verification laws, a move that EFF is against. Hongo emphasized that individuals should not be required to provide their driver's license just to visit free websites.
Pornhub has decided to withdraw from several states due to the increase in age verification laws being implemented across the country. This includes states like Montana, Utah, Virginia, and others. This move brings attention to the ongoing discussion in state legislatures about the necessity and feasibility of requiring websites to verify users' ages.
In this photo illustration a PornHub logo seen displayed on a smartphone screen in Athens, Greece on March 16, 2022.
In this photo illustration a PornHub logo seen displayed on a smartphone screen in Athens, Greece on March 16, 2022.
Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Related article
First on CNN: Pornhub asks users and Big Tech for help as states adopt age verification laws
In Texas, there is a law called HB 1181 that aims to prevent minors from accessing pornography on adult websites. This law requires these websites to use methods to verify the age of users.
These methods can include asking users to provide a government-issued ID or other personal information to prove their age. This information may be submitted directly to the website or to a third-party contractor. The contractor may use biometric data to confirm the user's age.
Recently, courts have been making decisions regarding the implementation of this law on pornographic websites.
Last summer, a US district judge temporarily blocked the law, stating that it was too broad, likely violated the First Amendment, and posed a threat to marginalized communities.
Judge David Alan Ezra of the US District Court for the Western District of Texas expressed concerns about the law. He warned that it could lead to the state monitoring adults' viewing of sexually explicit content and the websites they visit. This could have a chilling effect on individuals who want to access homosexual material, especially considering Texas's criminalization of homosexual intercourse.
The US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overruled Ezra with an order that allowed the law to take effect in response to an emergency appeal by Texas officials.
Last week, a three-judge panel of the same appeals court found that Ezra applied too tough a standard in reviewing the law.
The latest decision from the 5th Circuit court officially removes the injunction against the Texas law.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton took to social media on Thursday to express his excitement over Pornhub's choice to pull out of the state.
Pornhub is facing increased scrutiny, with efforts to crack down on sites like it gaining momentum. In Texas, strict laws prevent companies from exposing children to adult content. Those who refuse to comply will be shown the door.
In response, Pornhub expressed its support for age verification measures. However, the platform raised concerns about the potential privacy and security risks of requiring websites and third-party providers to handle sensitive personal information. Instead, the company suggested that age verification checks be conducted directly on users' devices to avoid the need to transmit data over the internet to external parties.
Editor's P/S:
The recent surge in VPN searches in Texas following Pornhub's withdrawal raises concerns about the unintended consequences of age verification laws. While the intent of these laws is to protect minors from accessing inappropriate content, they may also create barriers for adults who wish to access legal material. The use of VPNs to bypass these restrictions highlights the limitations of such laws and the need for a more balanced approach that prioritizes both child safety and individual privacy.
Furthermore, the potential privacy and security risks associated with age verification measures warrant further consideration. The reliance on biometric data and the involvement of third-party contractors raise concerns about data misuse and surveillance. It is essential to strike a balance between protecting children and safeguarding adult privacy rights when implementing such measures. blocking, and that this law will only serve to drive people to use less reputable websites that may not have the same level of security and privacy protections. Additionally, they argue that the law places an undue burden on websites and users, and that it could have a chilling effect on free speech.
