Pornhub Blocks Texas Users Over Fight With Greg Abbott

Texans can no longer access adult content website Pornhub.

The site pulled out of Texas on Thursday, less than a week after an appeals court ruled that Texas can enforce a law that requires age-verification systems on pornographic websites.

Users trying to access any of Aylo's networks, which include Pornhub, YouPorn and Brazzers, are reportedly receiving messages that inform them that the sites are no longer available due to the new law, which the company called "ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous."

"Not only will it not actually protect children, but it will also inevitably reduce content creators' ability to post and distribute legal adult content and directly impact their ability to share the artistic messages they want to convey with it," the message reads.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Aylo last month, accusing the company of violating House Bill 1181, which requires pornographic websites "use reasonable age verification methods" to "verify that an individual attempting to access the material is 18 years of age or older."

The bill, which Governor Greg Abbott signed into law in last June, also requires websites to "display health warnings about the effects of the consumption of pornography."

In last week's 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled in favor of the law but said Texas would not be able to enforce the provision requiring the controversial health warnings.

A lower court blocked the law in a preliminary ruling on August 31, a day before it was to take effect. U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled that it would impinge on adults' access to free speech by requiring them to identify themselves to use the site and that there were other ways to halt children from accessing pornography.

"Dear user, As you may know, your elected officials in Texas are requiring us to verify your age before allowing your access to our website," the message from Aylo reads. "Not only does this impinge on the rights of adults to access protected speech, it fails strict scrutiny by employing the last effective and yet also most restrictive means of accomplishing Texas's stated purpose of allegedly protecting minors."

Several conservatives celebrated Thursday's news on X, formerly Twitter. Right-wing activist Matt Walsh called it a "Huge win for Texas," while former Republican House candidate Robby Starbuck tweeted: "Pornhub would rather shut down than do the work to prevent kids from seeing porn on their site."

"This is a MAJOR WIN! Porn does NOTHING but serve to DESTROY families, degrade women, make weak men, and corrupt minors," The Patriot Voice said. "The fact they are so shaken by there being age verification for 'adult content' is VERY telling of their INTENTIONS to groom innocent children."

Update 3/14/24, 4:15 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.