Pornhub shuts down access in Missouri as new age-verification rule takes effect
The adult industry’s most well-known website, Pornhub, shut down in Missouri on Monday, marking the first major response to the state’s new age verification rule for adult websites.
Pornhub, in a statement to website visitors, called the rule ineffective and a risk to user privacy.
“Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Missouri,” the website said as of Tuesday morning.
The new rule requires adult websites to verify users’ ages, such as uploading a government-issued ID, before allowing access. Former Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, initiated the rule last spring and his Republican successor, Catherine Hanaway, carried it out on Monday.
Hanaway championed the website’s decision to shut down as proof that the rule was needed, framing it as a victory for families.
“Pornhub is welcome to leave Missouri,” Hanaway said in a statement. “What is not welcome is any company that puts profit above the safety of our children.”
Missouri’s policy, which was enacted without state legislation, illustrated the state’s most aggressive response to the adult industry in recent history. While displaying obscene material to minors is already illegal under federal law, the new rule has raised privacy concerns.
Websites, under the new rule, are required to use some form of age-verification mechanism if one-third of their content is pornographic. Variations of age verification include uploading a form of ID or using facial recognition software.
Mike Stabile, the director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition, which represents the sex industry, told The Star in September that the nonprofit had “serious concerns” about the rule and its impact on privacy and users’ First Amendment rights.
Stabile framed the policy as too broad and said it could be applied to social media websites, search engines and “any website with any significant amount of content that can be deemed “‘harmful to minors.’”
“There are effective, actionable legislative solutions to keeping minors from accessing adult sites, but asking actual adults to scan their face every time they go online isn’t a viable solution,” Stabile said in an email.
In neighboring Kansas, Pornhub’s website displayed a nearly identical message and appeared to block access as well. Kansas lawmakers approved a new age-verification law that went into effect last year.
A spokesperson for Aylo, Pornhub’s parent company, called Missouri’s rule “haphazard and ineffective” in a statement to The Star on Tuesday. The company argued that the rule would require users to turn over sensitive documents or data to third parties, risking privacy breaches.
“It is disappointing that Missouri officials are referencing our decision as a lack of concern for safety,” the statement said. “In actuality, we have made this difficult decision because we believe that any law to this effect must ensure minors do not access content intended for adults and preserve user safety and privacy.”
The statement also appeared to suggest that it would have been supportive of a previous version of the rule issued by Bailey, the former attorney general. That version included a “device-based” provision intended to prevent children from accessing devices used for dating apps, gambling or adult content, the statement said.
“Unfortunately, the final Missouri rule removed the device-based provision included by the previous Attorney General,” the statement said. “This change does not protect minors but protects the interests of Big Tech.”
“It’s disheartening,” the company added, “to see the adult industry shamed for taking privacy seriously while tech-aligned stakeholders were accommodated. “
Meanwhile, Hanaway’s office celebrated both the policy and Pornhub’s decision as evidence of Missouri protecting children.
“If a billion-dollar corporation would rather leave Missouri than verify that children are not accessing graphic sexual content, that tells you everything you need to know about its priorities,” Hanaway said. “We are proud to stand on the side of parents, families, and basic decency. Missouri will not apologize for protecting children.”
This story has been updated with a new statement from Pornhub’s parent company.
This story was originally published December 2, 2025 at 11:31 AM.
