The map of the internet is shifting in a way we haven't seen since the early days of the World Wide Web. Honestly, if you live in about half the country, you’ve probably already seen the screen. You know the one—the big, blocky text explaining that because of your state's laws, Pornhub and its sister sites like RedTube and Brazzers are no longer accessible. It’s a weird time.
Basically, there is no "federal" ban. Instead, we have a messy, state-by-state patchwork of age-verification laws that have essentially forced the hand of Aylo, the parent company of these sites. They’ve decided it’s easier to just flip the switch and block entire states rather than risk the massive fines and privacy nightmares that come with these new regulations.
What states is Pornhub banned in right now?
As of January 2026, the list has grown significantly. It started with a ripple in Utah and has turned into a full-on wave across the South and Midwest. If you are trying to access the site from any of the following states, you are likely looking at a "blocked" page:
- Texas (The big one. After a long legal fight, the Supreme Court basically gave the green light.)
- Florida (Blocked as of January 2025 under HB 3.)
- Alabama
- Arizona (Newest additions to the block list as of late 2025.)
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah (The state that started it all.)
- Virginia
- Wyoming
There's a weird exception in Ohio. While Ohio passed an age-verification law, Pornhub hasn't blocked the state yet because of how the law defines "interactive computer services." It's a loophole that might close any day, but for now, the lights are still on in the Buckeye State.
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Why is this actually happening?
It isn't a "ban" in the traditional sense. The government isn't technically telling these sites they can't exist. Instead, states are passing laws that require websites to verify the age of every single visitor using "commercially reasonable" methods. Usually, that means uploading a government-issued ID or using a third-party service that checks your credit records.
Aylo, the company behind Pornhub, hates this. They argue it’s a privacy disaster waiting to happen. Imagine a database out there that links your real name and home address to your browsing habits. Yeah, not great. So, rather than collect that sensitive data and risk a massive data breach or a $50,000 fine per violation (looking at you, Florida), they just geo-block the entire state.
The Louisiana Exception
Louisiana is the odd one out. It was the first state to pass these laws, but Pornhub is not blocked there. Why? Because Louisiana has a system called "LA Wallet." It’s a digital driver's license that allows for "anonymous" age verification. Since the infrastructure existed for people to verify their age without Pornhub having to store the ID themselves, they kept the site running. Most other states don't have a system like that yet, so they get the "ban" instead.
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The Legal Battle and the Supreme Court
For a while, it looked like the courts might stop this. The Free Speech Coalition and other groups sued, saying these laws violate the First Amendment. They argued that requiring an ID to access legal speech (pornography isn't "obscene" by legal standards, usually) is unconstitutional.
However, in June 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court weighed in on the Texas law. They basically said the state has a legitimate interest in protecting minors and that these age-verification requirements are a "reasonable" way to do it. That ruling was the "checkmate" move. Once Texas won, a dozen other states followed suit almost immediately.
Is this actually working?
Kinda... but also not at all. Experts like Eric Goldman, a law professor at Santa Clara University, have pointed out that these laws are "haphazard." While the big players like Pornhub comply by blocking the state, thousands of smaller, more "sketchy" sites don't care about U.S. laws.
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The result? Users in blocked states are often driven away from sites with "Trust and Safety" teams and toward unmoderated corners of the web. Or, they just download a VPN. In Florida, VPN usage reportedly spiked by over 1,000% the day the block went into effect.
What’s next for the "Banned" states?
The momentum isn't slowing down. Right now, there are pending bills or active discussions in states like Iowa, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. If you live in a state that hasn't been blocked yet, don't be surprised if 2026 brings some changes to your browser.
If you are a resident in one of these states, your options are basically down to three things. You can use a VPN to make it look like you’re in a state like New York or California. You can look for "LA Wallet" style digital ID systems if your state ever builds them. Or, you can just wait for the inevitable next round of lawsuits that will likely challenge how these laws affect privacy rather than just free speech.
The "Pornhub banned states" list is likely to grow before it shrinks. For now, the internet is becoming a place with very clear, very annoying borders.
Actionable Steps for Affected Users
If you find yourself in a blocked zone, you should focus on your digital privacy immediately. First, check if your state offers a secure, third-party digital ID system that doesn't share your specific data with the websites you visit. Second, if you use a VPN to bypass these blocks, ensure you are using a reputable, paid service; free VPNs often sell your browsing data, which defeats the purpose of avoiding the "ID upload" in the first place. Finally, keep an eye on your local state legislature's "Age Verification" bill trackers to see if your specific state is moving toward a Louisiana-style system or a full-scale block.