VIRGINIA — A bill that requires users be asked to provide identification before viewing porn websites has been signed into law.
The governor signed it into law Friday night and it is expected to go into effect on July 1.
News
New Va. laws impact weed industry, rules on the road, healthcare costs & more
The bill passed the General Assembly this year alongside strong bipartisan support.
A similar law has been put in place in Utah, which took effect earlier this month.
Pornhub, in retaliation, blocked all users in Utah from accessing their content. The Associated Press claims that those in Utah who attempt to access the site are now greeted with a “Dear User” letter and accompanying video from an adult film actor explaining the company’s stance.
According to Axios, the porn industry is warning Virginians that they could lose access to those adult sites if Gov. Youngkin was to sign the strict new age verification legislation.
Virginia's new law requires sites verify users are 18, but the state does not yet offer a digital ID that companies can tap into, said Mike Stabile, a spokesman for the Free Speech Coalition, an adult industry trade group.
Axios also reported that Youngkin’s press secretary, Macaulay Porter, disputed the notion that it would be difficult for sites to comply with the law without a state-provided digital ID.
