pornblocked

Is Pornhub blocked in Florida?

Yes. Pornhub has blocked Florida since January 1, 2025. Florida law (HB 3) took effect January 1, 2025.

Pornhub blocked Law in effect
Last verified Sources (13)

Since January 1, 2025, Florida's HB 3 requires websites and apps where more than a third of material is harmful to minors to verify users are 18 or older, offering both a standard and an anonymous verification option. The Attorney General can seek up to $50,000 per violation and has sued several adult site operators, including Aylo; no ruling in those suits has been reported. Pornhub has blocked Florida since January 1, 2025.

The law

Key facts
StatusLaw in effect
LawHB 3 (text)
CitationFla. Stat. §§ 501.1737, 501.1738 (ch. 2024-42, Laws of Fla.)
SignedMarch 25, 2024
In effectJanuary 1, 2025
Who it coversCommercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material harmful to minors on a website or app where more than 33.3% of total material is harmful to minors. News/public-interest content exempt; ISPs, search engines and cloud providers not liable for mere access.
Accepted ID methodsanonymous age verification (independent US-based third party, per § 501.1738); standard age verification (any commercially reasonable method approved by the site)
Data rulesSites must offer both an anonymous and a standard verification option and let the user choose. The anonymous verifier must be an independent third party with its principal place of business in a US state and no foreign ownership or control; it may not retain, use for any other purpose, or share the personal identifying information once age is verified, and must protect it with reasonable security (§ 501.1738). The statute sets no deletion rule for standard verification.
EnforcementBoth: the Department of Legal Affairs (Attorney General) treats violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices; a minor may sue a site that fails to block access after a report of unauthorized access.
PenaltiesCivil penalty up to $50,000 per violation plus fees and costs; punitive damages for a consistent pattern of non-compliance; private damages up to $10,000 plus fees and costs; up to $50,000 per violation for third-party verifiers that break § 501.1738.

Why is Pornhub blocked in Florida?

Aylo blocked Pornhub in Florida when HB 3 took effect (CBS Miami). The AG's September 2025 suit targets Aylo sites that stayed open without compliant verification (SpiceVids, Nutaku). In August 2026 Pornhub wrote to Gov. DeSantis, Attorney General Uthmeier and Florida legislators urging device-level age checks instead; Axios reported Floridians were still without access.

When did Pornhub block Florida?

Pornhub stopped serving Florida on January 1, 2025. Florida law (HB 3) took effect January 1, 2025.

Is porn banned in Florida?

No. Florida doesn't ban porn. Florida law (HB 3) sets age-verification rules for adult sites, and Pornhub chose to block Florida rather than follow them.

What does HB 3 require?

Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material harmful to minors on a website or app where more than 33.3% of total material is harmful to minors. News/public-interest content exempt; ISPs, search engines and cloud providers not liable for mere access.

Enforcement: Both: the Department of Legal Affairs (Attorney General) treats violations as unfair or deceptive trade practices; a minor may sue a site that fails to block access after a report of unauthorized access.

Is it illegal to watch porn in Florida?

No. Florida law (HB 3) puts its duties on websites, not on the people who visit them. Watching legal adult content is not a crime under it.

Separate state and federal laws on obscenity and child sexual abuse material apply everywhere, whatever a state's age-verification rules.

How do I verify my age for adult sites in Florida?

Florida law (HB 3) accepts these methods: anonymous age verification (independent US-based third party, per § 501.1738); standard age verification (any commercially reasonable method approved by the site). Each site chooses which ones to offer.

Can porn sites keep my ID in Florida?

Sites must offer both an anonymous and a standard verification option and let the user choose. The anonymous verifier must be an independent third party with its principal place of business in a US state and no foreign ownership or control; it may not retain, use for any other purpose, or share the personal identifying information once age is verified, and must protect it with reasonable security (§ 501.1738). The statute sets no deletion rule for standard verification.

Is it illegal to use a VPN in Florida?

Florida law (HB 3) sets duties for websites. It does not create a penalty for people who use a VPN.

Why does Pornhub think I'm in Florida?

Websites estimate where you are from your IP address, not your street address. Mobile carriers and some internet providers route traffic through regional hubs that can sit across a state line, so a phone in Alabama can appear to be in Florida.

When a site shows another state's notice, the cause is usually where your network's IP address is registered, not the law where you are.

Timeline

  1. Gov. Ron DeSantis signs HB 3 (ch. 2024-42, Laws of Fla.). [1]
  2. HB 3 takes effect. [1]
  3. Pornhub blocks visitors in Florida. [9]
  4. Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Uthmeier: plaintiffs voluntarily dismiss their challenge after the Supreme Court's ruling in FSC v. Paxton; case closed. [8]
  5. The Attorney General sues the operators of XVideos, XNXX, BangBros and GirlsGoneWild, and the ad network TrafficFactory, under HB 3. [6]
  6. The Attorney General sues Aylo and Nutaku over SpiceVids and Nutaku, and Segpay entities over an adult game site. [4]

Courts and enforcement

  • Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Uthmeier (formerly v. Moody) (U.S. District Court, N.D. Fla. (Judge Mark Walker), Jul 1, 2025). Voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs after the Supreme Court's June 27, 2025 ruling in FSC v. Paxton; case closed. Source
  • Office of the Attorney General v. WebGroup Czech Republic (XVideos), NKL Associates (XNXX), Sonesta (BangBros), GGW Group (GirlsGoneWild) and Traffic F (TrafficFactory) (Florida Attorney General, Aug 5, 2025). Complaint filed in state circuit court under HB 3 and FDUTPA; seeks to compel compliance. No ruling or settlement reported as of October 2026. Source
  • Office of the Attorney General v. Aylo Holdings USA Corp., Aylo Billing US Corp., Aylo Group Ltd and Nutaku Entertainment Ltd (Florida Attorney General, Sep 15, 2025). Complaint filed in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Sarasota County, alleging SpiceVids and Nutaku lacked compliant age verification; seeks injunctions and up to $50,000 per violation. No ruling or settlement reported as of October 2026. Source
  • Office of the Attorney General v. Gethins Ltd., Toccata, Inc. and Segpay entities (Florida Attorney General, Sep 15, 2025). Complaint filed over the adult game site xh.lustyheroes.com. No ruling or settlement reported as of October 2026. Source

Bills to watch

  • SB 1722. App Store Accountability Act: app stores to verify account holders' ages and obtain parental consent for minors. Died in Senate Judiciary Committee 2026-03-13.

Related laws

  • HB 3 (Fla. Stat. § 501.1736) (effective Jan 1, 2025). Bars social media accounts for under-14s; parental consent for 14-15 year-olds. enforceable: the Eleventh Circuit stayed the district court's injunction on 2025-11-25, then reversed and vacated it on 2026-10-14 and remanded (CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier, No. 25-11881)

Sources

  1. Chapter 2024-42, Laws of Florida (CS/CS/HB 3) (laws.flrules.org) Statute · Mar 25, 2024
  2. Fla. Stat. § 501.1737 (Florida Senate) (m.flsenate.gov) Statute · accessed Oct 26, 2026
  3. Fla. Stat. § 501.1738 (Florida Senate) (flsenate.gov) Statute · accessed Oct 26, 2026
  4. Attorney General James Uthmeier files complaints against pornography websites for violating Florida's age-verification law (Florida Attorney General) (myfloridalegal.com) Government · Sep 15, 2025
  5. Complaint, Office of the Attorney General v. Aylo Holdings USA Corp. et al. (Fla. 12th Cir. Ct., Sarasota County) (myfloridalegal.com) Court · Sep 15, 2025
  6. Attorney General James Uthmeier brings lawsuit against foreign and domestic porn distributors (Florida Attorney General) (myfloridalegal.com) Government · Aug 5, 2025
  7. CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier, No. 25-11881 (11th Cir. Oct. 14, 2026) (media.ca11.uscourts.gov) Court · Oct 14, 2026
  8. Plaintiffs drop challenge to Florida age verification law for porn sites (WUSF) (wusf.org) News · Jul 10, 2025
  9. Pornhub blocks access to its site in Florida (CBS Miami) (cbsnews.com) News · Jan 2, 2025
  10. Florida sues porn sites over age verification (Axios Tampa Bay) (axios.com) News · Aug 5, 2025
  11. Pornhub pushes for a return to Florida's web browsers (Axios Tampa Bay) (axios.com) News · Aug 4, 2026
  12. Pornhub says DeSantis' porn crackdown is backfiring (Miami New Times) (miaminewtimes.com) News · Aug 5, 2026
  13. SB 1722 (2026) Application Stores - Florida Senate (flsenate.gov) Legislature · Mar 13, 2026

This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.