Aylo, the parent company of Pornhub.com, has secured an agreement with the state of Utah to prevent the enforcement of a law that prohibits the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to circumvent the state's age verification statute. Enforcement of the law was set to begin on May 6, but will now be delayed until September 3.

Aylo Challenges Utah VPN Law in Court

Aylo sued the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and the state's Department of Commerce in late April in the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, alleging constitutional violations. The lawsuit claims that the state is violating the interstate commerce and foreign commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit also makes allegations of "unlawful state extraterritorial regulation." Aylo Freesites Ltd. and Aylo Group Ltd. are foreign corporate entities owned by Aylo's network of shell companies that are headquartered in Montreal, Québec, and are further held by the ownership group Ethical Capital Partners, based in Ottawa, Ontario.

Background on Utah's VPN Law

The law in question is part of Senate Bill 73 (SB 73), which was signed by Governor Spencer Cox on March 19, 2026. The bill consists of provisions related to a 2% tax on revenues from online adult content that will take effect in October.

However, one provision has raised concerns among digital rights advocates: the regulation of VPN access. Section 14 of the law amends Section 78B-3-1002 of existing Utah statutes and explicitly addresses VPN use.

Lawsuit Alleges Constitutional Violations

The plaintiff's attorneys, Annika L. Jones and Brandon S. Fuller from Snell & Wilmer LLP, argue that the new law is unconstitutional for three independent reasons:

  • It constitutes impermissible extraterritorial legislation.
  • It violates the dormant Commerce Clause.
  • It also violates the Foreign Commerce Clause by interfering with purely international transactions involving foreign entities and foreign nationals.

Key Facts

  • Aylo sued the Utah Division of Consumer Protection and the state's Department of Commerce in late April.
  • The lawsuit alleges constitutional violations, including accusations that the state is violating the interstate commerce and foreign commerce clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
  • Enforcement of the law was set to begin on May 6 but will now be delayed until September 3.
  • Aylo Freesites Ltd. and Aylo Group Ltd. are foreign corporate entities owned by Aylo's network of shell companies.