01-07-2025
New law triggers adult site shutdowns in Georgia
Georgians faced new hurdles accessing adult content Tuesday after several major websites implemented age verification measures or went offline.
Why it matters: Georgia joins roughly 20 states — primarily in the South and Mountain West — requiring users to submit identifying information to access adult content.
Driving the news: On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Texas law mandating age verification on adult sites does not violate the First Amendment, clearing the way for Georgia's similar law to take effect Tuesday.
How it works: Georgia's law compels adult websites to verify users' ages, typically through government-issued IDs, including digital driver's licenses.
The other side: Industry groups and free speech advocates say the law jeopardizes adults' privacy and fails to protect children, Axios' Philip Wang reports.
Critics argue the law's broad definition of sexually explicit material could affect streaming services and online bookstores while excluding social media platforms and search engines, where minors are more likely to encounter explicit content.
Between the lines: Some adult sites now block access in Georgia rather than comply with verification laws, prompting users to seek workarounds such as virtual private networks (VPNs).
Zoom in: People with a Georgia IP address visiting Pornhub or YouPorn are now met with statements explaining the companies' opposition to the law and announcing site shutdowns in the state.
What they're saying: "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," a statement from the companies reads.
"Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Georgia."
What's next: Alison Boden, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition, said in a statement that her group is "working with our legal team to understand the current legal landscape and determine what recourse may exist."
The intrigue: Shortly before the Supreme Court decision, U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg blocked enforcement of a provision requiring social media platforms to obtain parental approval before minors can create an account.
