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PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

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Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#321

It makes no sense to me that every physical store in a state must check IDs if you want to buy porn or alcohol, but porn websites can just let anyone in without checking ID. There are legitimate privacy concerns with checking ID online, but I think it’s way past time that the government does something to restrict the supply of porn to minors via the internet. The same with social media. The evidence that social media…

this is absolutely not the job of the government. you are responsible for your kids. this is just inviting more and more police state big brother bureaucratic bullshit and less rights, less freedom.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#322

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Laws restricting speech must pass strict scrutiny, which means they are the lightest restrictions on speech that meet the government's interests. In Utah, it's clear that there would be less-restrictive ways to achieve the supposed goals of the law. For instance, jail parents whose minor children view pornography. That would not be a content-based restriction on speech. Since there is no way for a website to know the…

> For instance, jail parents whose minor children view pornography. Does this seem at all practical to you? To me, this seems akin to dropping ID requirements at liquor stores and bars, and instead enacting a law to jail the parents of minors who drink liquor.

> To me, this seems akin to dropping ID requirements at liquor stores and bars, and instead enacting a law to jail the parents of minors who drink liquor.

Purchasing liquor isn't a first amendment right. The standards are indeed different.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#323
post #216

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think 1 and 2 are the only possible options. The thing is that thus far there hasn't been much incentive to develop technology that can verify people's age or other aspects of their identity in a privacy-friendly way, because the internet hasn't really needed it before. We should start by thinking about what we want to do: do we want to age-gate pornography? If so, why? If not, why not? And if we don't age-ga…

There could be some future in which computer security actually exists, but I just don't see our industry going in that direction right now. In any case, that technology doesn't exist now so the options today, with this law in effect, are as I stated.

Some systems do exists though, for example IRMA: https://privacybydesign.foundation/irma-explanation/ – I do think IRMA suffers from some issues, but options do exist.

If there are no laws then there is no pressure to create technology, and if there's no technology we can't create good laws. It's a bit of a chicken-and-egg thing innit? It's hard to tell where the future will go, but I will bet we will see more of these kind off laws passed around the world.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#324
post #309

It makes no sense to me that every physical store in a state must check IDs if you want to buy porn or alcohol, but porn websites can just let anyone in without checking ID. There are legitimate privacy concerns with checking ID online, but I think it’s way past time that the government does something to restrict the supply of porn to minors via the internet. The same with social media. The evidence that social media…

Does it have to be the government? Isn't this what parental controls are for

Utah hasn’t said what the solution has to be, just that age verification needs to take place.

I think the market should find the best solution here.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#325

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Anti porn or anti sex sentiment is rooted in religion. Even if the person isn't practicing religion, him or her holding these views are indicative of some religious upbringing with the standard amount of brainwashing.

And what's your basis for that belief?

Where else would someone gain this sentiment?

Certainly not rational thinking, people aren't discussing specific psychological research at mass. The instant ad hominem attack instead of rational discussion is highly indicative of ideological underpinning.

United States certainly and unfortunately has a strong religious background. Quite a few remnants of it are in peoples minds without it realizing it. For example, lot of people would consider it rude not to say "Bless you" when someone sneezes, which is 100% religious origin.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#326

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're equating porn with sexuality. I'm a grown man and I find most of what's on the front page of PornHub to be deeply disturbing. I see racism, misogyny, incest, even simulated assault. In a world where sexual assault is so common I think we need to seriously reconsider what we're consuming and what we're normalising by calling this stuff harmless. And I don't get what you're suggesting in saying hiding stuff does…

You are totally right. While we are at it, lets ban video games because they obviously cause school shootings.

That's a strawman no? You're trying to colour my argument by associating it with another one.

There are some notable differences though. If I play a violent video game then no one is actually being shot.

If I watch a woman being choked and ejaculated on by 20 men calling her a worthless slut whore in a porno then I'm watching that genuinely happening.

It's more akin to letting children watch videos from actual warzones. Even as an adult I find beheading videos to be disturbing.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#327

It makes no sense to me that every physical store in a state must check IDs if you want to buy porn or alcohol, but porn websites can just let anyone in without checking ID. There are legitimate privacy concerns with checking ID online, but I think it’s way past time that the government does something to restrict the supply of porn to minors via the internet. The same with social media. The evidence that social media…

I checked wikipedia at the age of 11 (21yrs ago) and learned every kind of fetish in existence. There are enough ways for parents to educate and limit access to things.

Reading a description is very different than seeing and listening to simulated rape or sexual assault.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#328
Multiple issues with this.

It starts off with arbitrary definitions of what pornography is (https://le.utah.gov/~2023/bills/static/SB0287.html): "nipple of the female breast"

You can suck on it when you are a baby, but god forbid you ever take a look at it again before you are married. What's wrong with these people?

Even public nudity laws differ from city to city (e.g. in California), so clearly, people aren't aligned at all on this subject (I'm emphasizing the arbitrary nature here).

Forbid and censor the things you're afraid of educating on.

This trend reminds tangentially of https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comics_Code_Authority.

On a closing note, I do recommend supporting organizations like https://www.aanr.com/ who also provide legal help to citizens in states that'd rather have you wear a burka than show a nipple.

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#329
post #256

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where are you based? I can purchase alcohol from Amazon UK with no obvious age checks. Deliveroo require that riders verify your age but in reality they just ask you to type it in. And the major grocery stores deliver alcohol without any obvious checking too. I imagine teenage drinking is much easier these days thanks to the above :)

> I imagine teenage drinking is much easier these days thanks to the above When I was in (secondary) school in the UK, we could get served beer in the pub at lunchtime while wearing school uniform! Doesn't get much easier than that!

We waited for the French Exchange kids to be staying with us. They all looked about 25 when we were all 15. They were always happy to buy our booze for us :-)

Re: PornHub blocks users in Utah, cites state’s age verification law

#330

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There are about a gazillion porn websites and legislation only affects the top like 3 of them. Completely pointless unless you have an entire surveillance system like China's firewall

A lot of those porn sites also are not free ( so automatically age restricted). PornHub is somewhat unique in that it’s so large and totally free.

It's unique in that it is as close to public facing as a pornography website gets, but it's not unique whatsoever in being large and free.
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