Louisiana has implemented a new law aimed at limiting minors’ access to pornographic websites. The law, which was signed by Gov. John Bel Edwards in June, took effect this week.
In order to prevent minors from accessing porn online, the law requires websites to verify user ages using a state-issued ID. The law was introduced by Representative Laurie Schegel, who also works as a counselor who sees patients for “sex addiction” treatment.
“Pornography is destroying our children and they’re getting unlimited access to it on the internet,” Schlegel told WAFB. “If the pornography companies aren’t going to be responsible, I thought we need to go ahead and hold them accountable.”
Pornhub, the largest porn website, is the first to comply with the law. Pornhub now directs people to AllPassTrust, a third-party identity verification site, which connects to LAWallet, a digital driver’s license for Louisianans. Other major adult sites are currently still accessible from Louisiana as normal, though that is expected to change in the coming weeks since they will now be criminally liable if minors access their site.
Similar age limit restrictions have been established in Australia and the United Kingdom, but Louisiana is the first state in the U.S. to implement this protocol.
