Pornhub Pulls Out of Nebraska
Nebraska’s new law requiring porn sites to verify users’ ages with ID has led Pornhub to block access in the state, triggering wider debate over how — or whether — online pornography should be age-gated. Commenters weigh child protection against privacy and surveillance risks, question the practicality and security of ID-based systems, and note that determined users can easily bypass such measures via VPNs or offshore sites. Others broaden the argument to the ethics of the porn industry itself and whether stricter regulation meaningfully reduces harm.
Age Verification Requirements vs. Privacy
- Many see Nebraska’s ID-upload requirement as dangerous: creates large databases of sensitive IDs on “sketchy” sites, increasing risk of breaches, tracking, and coercion.
- Others argue it’s analogous to existing age controls for alcohol, cigarettes, or prescription meds and that “if you don’t want to share ID, don’t use porn.”
- Counterpoint: unlike in-person checks, centralized digital logs are much more invasive and can easily become de facto registries of porn consumers.
Quizzes and “Soft” Age Checks
- A nostalgic suggestion: use knowledge quizzes (à la Leisure Suit Larry) instead of IDs.
- Critics say this proves nothing in the era of search engines/AI, where teens or bots could easily pass, and it doesn’t address legal liability.
Technical Proposals for Anonymous Age Proof
- Multiple ideas for privacy-preserving verification:
- Government-issued cryptographic tokens or key pairs handed out in person after ID check, later used online for yes/no age checks.
- Government or bank portals that verify ID and return “over 18” tokens without identity details.
- ID scans plus liveness checks as today’s pragmatic “best we have,” though still privacy-invasive.
- Skeptics warn any such system can be linked back to individuals once the capability exists; others claim designs without persistent logs are possible but enforcement may still require some tracking.
Effectiveness, Workarounds, and Enforcement
- Several argue laws will be easily bypassed via VPNs or offshore sites and mainly hurt compliant platforms like Pornhub.
- Some note that smaller or foreign sites may simply ignore state laws; aggressive enforcement (ISP blocking, blackholing) is compared to actions against CSAM or problematic forums.
- Others warn this logic leads toward wider censorship and authoritarian tools.
Ethics of Pornography
- One side claims porn is heavily abusive, stigma is justified, and consumers should reduce demand.
- Others counter with:
- Comparisons to abuse in other industries (tech, textiles, mining) that we still consume from.
- Examples of consensual, amateur or studio work with positive environments.
- Objection to conflating all porn with worst-case scenarios.
Civil Liberties and “Dystopia” Concerns
- Strong disagreement over whether mandatory age verification is reasonable child protection or a step toward a surveillance dystopia.
- Some argue there is no inherent right to anonymous porn; others insist state involvement in tracking lawful sexual content is a core civil-liberties red line.
Pornhub’s Strategy and Market Context
- Debate over Pornhub’s motives for exiting states:
- Critics: they “want kids hooked” and avoid responsibility.
- Defenders: they reasonably refuse to hold massive ID troves, can’t satisfy hostile prosecutors, and will lose to offshore competitors anyway.
- Question raised why many legacy porn sites still operate on simple click-throughs and credit cards; possible explanations include selective enforcement and Pornhub’s visibility.
- Brief notes on Pornhub’s modern business model: creator-focused, memberships, tipping, ads, and studio cross-promotion.
Miscellaneous Ideas and Humor
- Proposals for two separate internets (adults vs minors).
- Jokes about “Cornhub,” withdrawal/pull-out effectiveness, and wordplay on “pulling out” of Nebraska.