Pornhub blocked Utah residents from accessing the XXX-rated site on Tuesday as the state prepares to implement a new law requiring tech companies to verify that all users are over 18 years old.
The Utah law, which goes into effect Wednesday, restricts social media use by minors — making the Beehive State the first in the nation to require parental permission for anyone under 18 to use popular platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
The adult entertainment site got swept up in Utah’s stiffer regulations, which only allow access with government-issued ID instead of identifying users by their device.
Utah-based internet surfers who tried to access Pornhub on Tuesday were met with a videotaped message by Cherie Deville, an adult-film actress.
“While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users and, in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk,” Deville says in the clip.
“Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Utah.”
The company wants Utahans to contact their local representatives to urge an alternative method of identification.
The Post reach out to Utah Gov. Spencer Cox for comment.
Vice was the first to report the news.
Utah’s Republican-controlled legislature passed two bills last month — one requiring the age verification and another which makes it easier to sue social media companies for damages — which were signed into law by Cox.
The new measurers also force minors who want to create a social meeting account to get permission from a parent.
State legislators in Louisiana passed a similar law that went into effect earlier this year.
Pornhub complied with the Louisiana statute, which Utah legislators cite as a reason they think the company will eventually adhere to their laws as well.