Pornhub has cut off Arizona over a new law. There’s a way around it

Thanks to a new state law that took effect Sept. 26, Pornhub has barred users in Arizona from accessing its site. The law, signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs earlier this year, requires people in Arizona to show their government ID to watch porn online.

When an Arizona user accesses the site, they are greeted with a message denying them access. “As you may know, your elected officials in Arizona are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you to access our website,” it reads. “While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk.”

The message goes on to note that, rather than hand over their IDs, users will seek noncompliant websites that have fewer safety controls. It also promotes the use of device-based parental controls to verify age rather than forcing websites to collect that information.

“Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Arizona,” the message concludes. “Please contact your representatives before it is too late and demand device-based verification solutions that make the internet safer while also respecting your privacy.”

In a statement to Phoenix New Times, Pornhub parent company Aylo further explained the decision to cut off access.

“Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous,” the statement said. “Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.”

Pornhub is the world’s most-trafficked porn site, receiving more than 100 million visits every day. Rather than comply with similar verification requirements in other states, the site has opted to block users from those places from accessing the site. That was the case in Florida, Texas, Idaho, Kansas and Kentucky.

Arizona’s bill was introduced by GOP state Rep. Nick Kupper with the goal of preventing minors from accessing pornographic content. “Hardcore pornography has been just one click away from kids for too long, and the companies behind it have looked the other way while cashing in,” Kupper said in a statement at the time. “This law forces them to take responsibility and keeps minors off their platforms.” Companies that break the law could face fines of up to $250,000 for a single failure to verify age.

But critics — including Pornhub — have noted that while keeping children from accessing porn is a noble goal, the practice of gathering personal data on government documents for users is a massive privacy concern. Critics also noted that such a requirement has a big loophole for determined porn-viewers: virtual private networks, or VPNs.

How to use a VPN

Want to get your rocks off? Meet the VPN.

By using a VPN, you block your IP address (which tracks the location from which you are using an electronic device) and connect to a server in a different physical location. To Pornhub, it will appear as if you are accessing the site from somewhere outside Arizona.

VPNs are popular among advanced computer users for a wide variety of reasons, including accessing streaming services in other countries. Now, it’s a workaround for watching porn in your draconian state.

Here’s how to use one:

• Sign up for a VPN. Some of the most popular and reputable are ExpressVPN, NordVPN and Surfshark.
• Download the app on the device you’re going to use.
• Open the app and connect to a server in a different location and access the internet.

It’s as simple as that. Happy, uh, ending.