(Austin) — One of the world’s largest adult entertainment websites has blocked access to Texas, thanks to a law that requires age verification. Former State Representative Matt Krause started the push to restrict kid’s access to PornHub and other sites three years ago.
“It’s very telling that a site would shut down complete access to everybody, only for the fact that they have to have age verification,” said Krause.
Krause says he’s glad that the site has been shut down in Texas. He thinks its a win for parents and children.
“My concern in 2021 was that these sites were being used for child exploitation,” said Krause.
Even if you don’t agree with the exploitation claim, it may be hard to argue that it didn’t provide easy access to this kind of content. Krause says it’s suspicious that Pornhub is fighting for something that might potentially allow children to have easy access to adults-only content.
“This affirms that we were on the right track in 2021, and it’s definitely the right thing to happen in 2024,” said Krause.
In a statement, the Canadian-based company says the Texas law infringes on adults’ rights to access protected speech. The company had previously sued to block the law, but a new ruling from a federal appeals court sided with the state of Texas, saying that pornography is proven to harm brain development in children.