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Excitable Internet users might to keep one hand on their driving licences—as adult sites including Pornhub have begun asking users for their ID.
A new law passed in Louisiana requires residents to confirm their ages using a government-issued ID if they want to watch porn online.
The law, which became effective on January 1st, forces websites that have a 'substantial portion' of adult content to make users prove they're over 18.
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Apparently, Youporn, Redtube, and Pornhub have already began the checks, with other adult sites to follow.
The sites are expected to use 'reasonable age verification methods', which in the case of Louisiana means using a government-issued digital driving licence app.
The law is designed to protect children from adult content. A policy document says: "Due to advances in technology, the universal availability of the internet, and limited age verification requirements, minors are exposed to pornography earlier in age.
"Pornography contributes to the hyper sexualization of teens and prepubescent children and may lead to low self-esteem, body image disorders, an increase in problematic sexual activity at younger ages, and increased desire among adolescents to engage in risky sexual behaviour."
However, the law has already been criticised on privacy grounds. Speaking to TechCrunch, sex worker and UCLA researcher Olivia Snow called the verification process 'surveillance', and said it could be used to clamp down on people "consuming gay porn, or lesbian porn".
Despite these fears, Pornhub has said that "proof of one age does not allow anyone to trace [their] online activity."
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Similar rules could soon be in place in the UK, if the government's controversial Online Safety Bill passes.
Online platforms will be required to put adult content behind an age gate and verify users' age before they're allowed to view it.
However, there are numerous privacy concerns around the sharing of ID with adult websites, while internet safety organisations believe the measures might not be effective in protecting children from inappropriate content.
Ali Bissoondath of Internet Matters said of the Online Safety Bill: "Although platforms will sitll be required to tackle legal but harmful content for children (including by putting this material behind an age gate), a harmful online environment for adults will spill over to children. Curious children will undoubtedly find a way around age verification, however advanced the technology is."
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