Age Verification for Adult Content Becomes Mandatory in Virginia and Mississippi Tomorrow

Age Verification for Adult Content Becomes Mandatory in Virginia and Mississippi Tomorrow

RICHMOND, Va. — New laws mandating age verification for adult websites in Virginia and Mississippi, passed by both states’ legislatures earlier this year, will take effect on Saturday.

Sites that do not age-verify users in those states as prescribed by the laws “will be liable for civil suits should a minor access — and be harmed by — content on the site,” Free Speech Coalition warned on Friday.

As XBIZ reported, the Mississippi law was sponsored by Republican state Sen. Nicole Boyd (Oxford), who has also been tasked by that state’s Republican governor with “mapping out what the next chapter of the pro-life agenda should be.” 

Boyd met with Louisiana Senate President Pro Tem Beth Mizell to craft a copycat version of Louisiana’s controversial Act 440. That age verification measure, championed by religious anti-porn therapist and legislator Laurie Schlegel (R-Matairie), became state law in Louisiana on Jan. 1.

“I was shocked at the prevalence of pornography among our teen population,” Boyd told the Mississippi Senate.

Unlike Louisiana, which had a digital driver’s license program in place to help with compliance, Mississippi’s mobile ID provider “does not offer website operators the functionality to remotely validate IDs,” the FSC noted.

According to the adult industry trade group, the Virginia version of the age verification law also defines material “harmful to minors” differently than most states.

“Oddly,” the FSC pointed out, “it includes ‘non-opaque clothing’ and ‘sadomasochistic abuse.’”

“It’s not a question of if these will be declared unconstitutional, but when,” FSC Director of Public Affairs Mike Stabile told XBIZ on Friday. “Keeping kids from accessing adult content is an admirable goal, but writing laws meant to punish the industry, without consulting with the industry — or even people familiar with technology — is a recipe for laws that are ineffective and dangerous.”

As in Utah and Louisiana, Stabile added, “these laws punish compliant sites while encouraging the growth of illegal sites and pirated content.”

A Regulatory Minefield Designed by Anti-Porn Crusaders

According to FSC, Virginia’s law is “extremely vague regarding the methods sites can use to comply. It allows for ‘a commercially available database that is regularly used by businesses or governmental entities for the purpose of age and identity verification’ or ‘another commercially reasonable method of age and identity verification.’”

The FSC also released suggestions for website operators trying to navigate the regulatory minefield set up for them by anti-porn politicians and lobbies.

“While we’re looking at potential challenges to these laws, everyone’s risk tolerance is different,” the FSC pointed out. “There are several options for website operators subject to AVS mandates.”

Earlier today, Pornhub decided to shut down access to its platform in Virginia and Mississippi, explaining that the new state laws — drafted with the cooperation of groups that have targeted the site specifically and whose avowed goal is to “eradicate pornography” — present too much risk.

Pornhub previously followed the same strategy in Utah, shutting down site access in that state when another copycat version of the Louisiana law went into effect there.

The sponsor of the Arkansas copycat bill, Sen. Tyler Dees (R-Siloam Springs), admitted in February that the state-by-state age verification initiatives are merely a stepping stone toward the ultimate goal of a federal mandate.

“My hope is that we protect children and their innocence in [the] state of Arkansas and then send a message across the country that we need something similar built into federal law as well,” Dees declared.

FSC has called the current Republican campaign against adult material online, including the copycat age verification schemes, “the most aggressive censorship we’ve seen in decades.”

For XBIZ’s June cover feature with an in-depth look at age verification legislation, click here.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Publishes Guidance on Google Analytics Lawsuits

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published guidance on how adult websites can protect themselves in the wake of several consumer class action lawsuits filed against sites for using Google Analytics.

BranditScan, CreatorTraffic Partner for 'Creators & Agencies' Initiative

BranditScan and advertising network CreatorTraffic have partnered for an initiative to help creators and agencies generate traffic and protect their content.

Teasy Agency Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Teasy Agency has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Aylo, Pineapple Support Partner for Mental Health Video Series

Aylo has teamed up with Pineapple Support to create a safety video series aimed at educating performers and creators about mental health.

Ofcom Investigates FTV Sites for Possible AV Noncompliance

U.K. media regulator Ofcom is investigating First Time Videos, which operates the sites FTVGirls.com and FTVMilfs.com, for possible failure to comply with age assurance requirements under the Online Safety Act.

Stalwart Defender: Jeffrey Douglas on 30 Years Fighting for Free Expression

“If you had told me in 1995 that I would be on the FSC board for 30 years, I would have laughed out loud,” says Jeffrey Douglas.

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Show More