Starting Friday, September 26th, Arizonans may find themselves blocked from accessing popular adult websites unless they’re willing to prove their age using a government-issued ID.
House Bill 2112, signed by Governor Katie Hobbs earlier this year, is set to take effect, requiring adult websites to verify users’ ages before allowing access. The measure is aimed at preventing minors from viewing explicit content online.
Under the law, websites featuring more than one-third adult material are required to implement age checks using digital ID systems or other third-party verification tools. Sites that fail to comply could face steep penalties, including fines of up to $10,000 per day and lawsuits from parents if minors gain access.
Reports show one of the bill’s sponsors, State Representative Nick Kuppar, says the law is about protecting kids, not adding unnecessary regulation.
“If a child goes to their porn website, it just says are you an 18 years old? Yes or no,” He said. “If a child’s already gone there, they’re not going to click no and be like, well, they caught me. I’m not 18.”
How It Works
- Affected websites must confirm users’ ages before showing adult content.
- Age checks must not store or share users' personal information.
- Non-compliant sites could face lawsuits and up to $250,000 in fines if a minor accesses adult content.
- Parents can take legal action against sites that fail to implement proper safeguards.
The law has already prompted strong reactions from the adult entertainment industry. Pornhub, one of the most visited adult websites in the world, has announced it will block access for all Arizona users rather than comply with the new verification process.
Arizona now joins a growing list of states that have passed similar laws in recent years. In fact, Arizona’s legislation was modeled directly after a Texas law that the U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld.
For residents of Arizona, the impact will be immediate. Visitors to sites like Pornhub may see a message saying the site is unavailable in their state. Other adult platforms may follow suit, either blocking access or rolling out new ID verification systems.
Overdue Safety Precautions
Supporters of the law see it as a long-overdue update to internet safety standards, especially for minors. But critics warn it raises privacy concerns and could lead to censorship or overreach.
“I don’t love adding more regulation if I don’t have to. That’s not my intent. You know, my intent is to protect children,” Nick Kupper concluded.
