Pornhub Shuts Down Site in Utah, Google Searches for VPN Access Jump

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  • After Pornhub blocked access to its site in Utah, Google searches for VPN access spiked statewide. 
  • The pornography site pulled the plug on Monday in protest of a new Utah age-verification law.
  • Pornhub said the law is ineffective, unfair, and an invasion of privacy. 

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After Pornhub blocked access to its site in Utah, it appears that residents took matters into their own hands — Google searches for VPN access spiked in the state, becoming the most popular search term statewide. 

While many searches came from Utah's urban areas, much of the search volume traces back to smaller towns such as Providence, Mount Pleasant, Moroni, and Magna. Other related topics — everything from different types of VPNs to "what is a VPN" — also saw spikes in search, according to Google data. 

Utahns' increased interest in virtual private networks comes after Pornhub revoked access to its site for state residents on Monday. The move was in protest of a new age-verification law, S.B. 287, which requires pornography companies to complete "reasonable" checks to ensure users are of adult age. 

According to the bill, age verification would most likely take place by a user providing a government-issued identification card or using a third-party app. 

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In response to S.B. 287, which passed in March and went into effect Wednesday, Pornhub published a video statement on its site. 

—vx-underground (@vxunderground) May 2, 2023

In the video, adult film actress Cherie DeVille said: "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."

Pornhub is instead advocating for "device-based verification," meaning users could verify an electronic device such as a smartphone, computer, or tablet is used or owned by an adult.

Using a VPN is a simple and effective cybersecurity measure. We rated Express VPN as the best VPN in our guide because of its consistent performance and reliable security.

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