Texas and Florida have become focal points in the ongoing debate over internet regulation, with both states enacting laws requiring age verification on pornographic websites. Pornhub, a leading adult content platform, has responded by blocking access to its site from Texas, citing the law as 'ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous.' The move came into effect on March 14, leading to a significant 48% surge in VPN usage in Texas as residents sought ways to circumvent the block, with Express VPN specifically noting the increase. Similarly, Florida has passed a law mandating age verification for porn sites, with Governor Ron DeSantis signing the bill amidst expectations of legal challenges. The legislation has been defended by its proponents as a means to protect children from harmful content online, with House Speaker Paul Renner labeling opposition as 'digital trafficking.' Web searches for VPNs in Texas have reportedly increased by 400% following the Pornhub block, indicating a widespread search for workarounds among internet users in the state.
The state has just introduced a new age verification law similar to the one in Texas. https://t.co/ST7vEPnaZ8
JUST IN: Gov. Ron DeSantis has canceled his 11:15 a.m. Orlando press conference
Florida Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference at Orange County state attorney's office https://t.co/APmnTD5QdW
INBOX: @GovRonDeSantis and @AGAshleyMoody to hold press conference at Orange County State Attorney’s Office. 11:15 a.m. #FlaPol https://t.co/MgkzxWPql7
Florida passes law requiring age verification for porn sites, social media restrictions https://t.co/YJvybMFGJT
DeSantis signs bill requiring adult age verification for sites with "obscene," harmful content https://t.co/kxBv1YYAJk
Wow! Florida just passed mandatory age verification for access to p*rn sites. Now expect P*rnhub to shut down in Florida, just like they did in Texas and every other state that has passed age verification laws to protect children from their rape and trafficking crime scene. https://t.co/BdV1vZkSZ0
Porn sites are banning Texas. Here's what Texans are Googling in response https://t.co/DfLC57xiS2
Countertrafficking Experts Applaud Texas Porn Age-Verification Law https://t.co/YL32hR9fmK via @Streamdotorg
Web searches for VPNs swell 400% in Texas as Pornhub blocks access, per NYP.
.@GovRonDeSantis signs social media, pornography age verification requirements Reporting by @JacobOgles https://t.co/qqw5MO7xg6 #FlaPol
Florida @GovRonDeSantis signing Florida's revamped social media law this a.m. in Jacksonville. Top Fla officials are already anticipating a legal challenge. House Speaker @Paul_Renner accuses tech companies that will sue of "digital trafficking" & says "we will beat them."
Social media restriction law sponsor Rep. Tyler Sirois: "We are gonna protect our kids from this digital fentanyl." "For our children, these companies are no town square. They are a dark alley." https://t.co/nbePf2WEeN
WATCH: House Speaker @Paul_Renner, champion of the social media restriction legislation, dares groups to sue state after the bill is signed by DeSantis "[This is] digital trafficking [...] We're gonna beat them [and] we're never, ever gonna stop protecting our children." https://t.co/UfmgQO4OzC
INBOX: @GovRonDeSantis holding press conference in Jacksonville later this morning. Since @Paul_Renner will be in attendance is this where Gov will sign HB 3? https://t.co/b22i1X5N8o
Pornhub pulled its access in Texas on March 14. Express VPN saw a 48% increase in web traffic from Texas over the next week. https://t.co/vsUjk5uQbX
Pornhub has begun blocking visitors from Texas, where the authorities are attempting to enforce a new law requiring web porn platforms to check viewer ages. The company called the law "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous." https://t.co/vfA3hznGX2
Texas was the latest state to see Pornhub pull access to its content for people logging on from people in the state. But there is a workaround for people looking to access that content: VPNs. https://t.co/4DM5XjteZw