VPN searches surge as Virginia porn sites block access.
Surge in VPN Searches in Virginia as New Law Restricts Access to Pornography Websites
Friday witnessed a significant surge in searches for VPNs in the state of Virginia, as a new law aimed at restricting internet users under the age of 18 from accessing pornography websites is set to take effect. The surge in searches followed the blocking of adult websites, including PornHub, for Virginia residents. According to Google Trends, VPN searches in the state started spiking on Thursday evening and reached their peak early Friday morning at around 5:30 a.m. EDT.
What is a VPN?
A VPN, short for “virtual private network,” allows internet users to browse the web while encrypting their connection. This encryption hides the user’s internet protocol and online activity, including their physical location, as explained by NordVPN.
As of Thursday, Virginia residents attempting to visit PornHub are greeted with a letter explaining the reason for their blocked access to the site. The letter states, “As you may know, your elected officials in Virginia are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you to access our website. While safety and compliance are our top priorities, constantly providing your ID card for every visit to an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users. In fact, it puts children and your privacy at risk.”
A similar surge in VPN searches occurred in Utah last month when the state implemented an age-verification system for all pornography sites, restricting access for users under 18. These restrictions have led to the Free Speech Coalition, an advocacy group for the adult industry, filing a lawsuit against Utah. The group argues that the state’s law unfairly discriminates against certain types of speech and infringes on people’s privacy, according to WUSA9.
“These laws grant the state the power to harass and censor legal businesses,” stated Alison Boden, executive director of the Free Speech Coalition. “While we support preventing minors from accessing adult content, allowing the state to suppress specific speech by imposing invasive and burdensome systems that consumers refuse to engage in is simply state censorship.”
The bill restricting access to adult websites for users under 18 was signed by Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) in May and is scheduled to go into effect on Saturday.
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