The introduction in the US state of Utah of a strict age restriction on accessing pornographic sites caused a jump in Internet searches on Wednesday for VPN, a tool that can show a different location than the actual geographic position.
According to statistics from the Google search engine, Internet users’ requests for access to VPNs (virtual private network) skyrocketed in this western state of the United States within hours of the law’s entry into force, to the point of becoming the most popular query.
A law setting a strict age limit
The world porn giant Mindgeek, owner in particular of the popular site Pornhub, blocked all access to its platform in Utah on Tuesday, in response to the decision of local authorities to require Internet users to prove their age with their identity document. To access. the place.
In a Pornhub video defending her decision, porn actress Cherie Deville claims that “giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution to protect our users.”
Instead, Pornhub promotes an “on-device verification” system, through which users can verify their age using their smartphones, computers, or tablets.
In 2016, Utah listed pornography as a public health crisis. This Republican-dominated state is two-thirds populated by Mormons, with strong social conservatism.
Source: BFM TV
