Age verification (AV) laws continue to expand across the United States and internationally, with new legislation enacted in Iowa and pending in Missouri, while federal proposals in the U.S. and bills in Canada and Poland advance. Lawsuits related to AV enforcement are also progressing in U.S. courts and regulatory bodies in the U.K. and Brazil.

U.S. Federal and State Landscape

Approximately half of all U.S. states currently have laws requiring adult websites to verify user ages. Three federal proposals are pending that would mandate age verification by adult websites, and if passed, their provisions would supersede existing state laws.

One such proposal is the Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act, introduced in February 2025. This bill was amended in committee but has seen no movement since December. An updated version of the SCREEN Act is included in the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, an omnibus bill combining multiple online safety bills. The KIDS Act may soon be put to a vote before the House of Representatives. However, the measure faces opposition in the Senate due to provisions concerning social media platforms. The KIDS Act has been opposed by 44 state attorneys general and a coalition of online safety organizations this week. A newly announced bipartisan agreement in the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce may soon bring a proposed federal age verification law before the full House.

The new SAFE for Kids Act, introduced earlier this month, also proposes a federal AV mandate for adult websites. This bill is awaiting its first committee hearing and could serve as a federal AV "backup" plan if the KIDS Act does not advance.

At the state level, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a new age verification bill into law earlier this month. HF 864 requires websites and applications with a "substantial portion" of adult content—defined as 33% or more of "the total amount of data publicly available"—to use "reasonable" age verification to prevent minors from accessing such content. The amended version of the bill replaced "obscene material" with "pornographic for minors." Iowa's attorney general will enforce the law through civil suits, with penalties up to $1,000 per violation, capped at $10,000 in a single day.

In Missouri, AV bill HB 1839 awaits Governor Mike Kehoe’s signature to become law. Missouri’s former attorney general previously imposed state AV regulations without legislative approval. State legislators introduced bills to provide legislative backing for these regulations. If Kehoe signs HB 1839, it will be enforced by Missouri’s attorney general via civil suits, with penalties up to $10,000 per day and up to $250,000 if minors access adult material in violation of AV requirements. The bill has been on Kehoe's desk for a month; it will automatically become law if he does not sign or veto it within 45 days of receipt.

Several age verification bills failed to advance in recent state legislative sessions and have expired. These include bills in Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Bills in Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania appear stalled or delayed until the next session. In New Hampshire, an AV bill passed the state Senate but was rejected by the House of Representatives. An AV bill in New York was defeated in the Senate Internet and Technology Committee.

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit alleging that adult site SuperPorn violated Kansas’ age verification law, citing lack of jurisdiction after dismissing two related cases earlier this year.

Arizona Governor Kate Hobbs on Friday vetoed HB 2133, the “Protect Act,” which would have imposed new requirements for adult content uploaded online.

International Developments

In Canada, the Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Act, which would require commercial adult websites to verify that Canadian users are at least 18 years old, had its first reading in the House of Commons at the end of April, after being passed by the Canadian Senate. It is still awaiting a second House reading.

Brazil’s public comment period on the interpretation and application of its Digital Statute for Children and Adolescents (Digital ECA) concluded on June 15. This law requires adult websites to age-verify users located in Brazil. Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority has launched a complaints page for reporting possible violations of the Digital ECA, including failure to age-verify users. Brazil’s National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) is now monitoring 18 high-traffic adult websites for compliance with the Digital ECA.

U.K. media regulator Ofcom has initiated new investigations into two adult sites in May as part of its age assurance enforcement program under the Online Safety Act. Ofcom imposed fines totaling more than $800,000 against adult site operator Youngtek Solutions for failing to implement age checks and respond to information requests. This month, Ofcom fined First Time Videos, which operates FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, more than $100,000 for failing to implement age checks. The agency also issued a provisional determination that the provider of xgroovy.com has failed to comply with age assurance requirements under the Online Safety Act and gave the site’s operator 20 working days to respond.

Poland’s Ministry of Digital Affairs is advocating for a national AV law to align with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). This bill requires approval from President Karol Nawrocki, who earlier this year vetoed another bill implementing key DSA provisions.

EU-based WebGroup Czech Republic (WGCZ), parent company of XVideos, XNXX, BangBros, and GirlsGoneWild, settled a lawsuit last month filed by the state of Florida. The lawsuit alleged failure to age-verify Florida users before allowing access to adult content. The settlement requires WGCZ to implement age verification on its sites and pay $1.2 million.

In Ghana, where producing, selling, or distributing pornography is illegal, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovation Samuel George recently advocated for age verification rules to prevent minors from accessing adult content online. George called for Ghana to require users to provide a driver’s license or national ID card before accessing adult content. George incorrectly stated that U.K. users accessing pornographic websites are required to provide a driver’s license to prove age; the U.K.’s Online Safety Act allows for a range of methods that meet Ofcom’s criteria for "highly effective age assurance."

VPNs and Enforcement Challenges

Concerns about the widespread use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent age verification have led to state and federal efforts to address this loophole.

Last month, a new Utah law making adult websites liable if minors in the state circumvent geolocation efforts to bypass age verification came into force. After Pornhub parent company Aylo filed a lawsuit, a U.S. district court approved a period of forbearance, during which Utah agreed not to enforce that provision against Aylo while litigation over the law’s constitutionality proceeds. Utah argued in a recent court filing that adult sites can detect VPN use and geolocate users.

Aylo is also involved in another lawsuit over VPN-related issues with the state of Indiana. Indiana is suing Aylo, alleging the company and its affiliates violated the state’s AV law by failing to prevent access by users employing VPNs to avoid geolocation. Indiana law does not explicitly specify a duty to account for intentional circumvention of geoblocking.

These cases will test whether sites can be held accountable for access by users who use VPNs and other means to circumvent geoblocking. Their outcomes may impact the enforceability of other proposed legislation, such as Ohio’s “Innocence Act,” which would require adult sites to “utilize a geofence system maintained and monitored by a licensed location-based technology provider” to dynamically monitor a user’s physical location. The proposed federal KIDS Act also includes a provision requiring sites to take “reasonable measures” to address circumvention of age verification.

Key Facts

  • Approximately half of all U.S. states have age verification laws for adult websites.
  • Three federal age verification proposals are pending in the U.S., including the KIDS Act and the SAFE for Kids Act.
  • Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 864 into law, requiring "reasonable" age verification for adult content.
  • Missouri's HB 1839 awaits Governor Mike Kehoe's signature to become law, imposing penalties for AV violations.
  • U.K. regulator Ofcom has fined Youngtek Solutions and First Time Videos for failing to implement age checks under the Online Safety Act.
  • WebGroup Czech Republic (WGCZ) settled a Florida lawsuit for $1.2 million and agreed to implement age verification.