Is Pornhub blocked in Chicago?
It depends which side of the state line you're on. In Chicagoland, Pornhub is available. In Northwest Indiana, Pornhub has been blocked since June 27, 2024.
Which side of the line are you on?
| Area | Pornhub | State law |
|---|---|---|
| ChicagolandChicago, Aurora, Joliet | No law; Pornhub available | No law |
| Northwest IndianaGary, Hammond, Valparaiso | Pornhub blocked since Jun 27, 2024 | Law in effectsince Jul 1, 2024 |
Is Pornhub blocked in Chicagoland?
No. Chicago, Aurora and Joliet are in Illinois, where there is no age-verification law for porn sites, and Pornhub is available.
Is Pornhub blocked in Northwest Indiana?
Yes. Gary, Hammond and Valparaiso are in Indiana, where Pornhub has been blocked since June 27, 2024, in response to Indiana law (SB 17).
Why does Pornhub think I'm in Indiana?
Websites estimate where you are from your IP address, not your street address. Mobile carriers and some internet providers route traffic through regional hubs that can sit across a state line, so a phone in Chicago can appear to be in Indiana.
When a site shows another state's notice, the cause is usually where your network's IP address is registered, not the law where you are.
Why does Pornhub load for some people in Northwest Indiana?
Sites decide where you are from your network's IP address. A connection registered across the state line can be treated as being there, which is why the same site can behave differently for neighbours on the same street.
Indiana law (SB 17) puts its duties on websites, not on the people who visit them.
Local coverage
- Age-verification mandate for adult websites easily bypassed The Times of Northwest Indiana, Dec 15, 2025
AG Todd Rokita's new court filing concedes Indiana's age-verification requirement is easily bypassed: he accuses an adult-site operator of violating the law because Hoosiers can still reach its sites over VPNs. - Age verification for adult websites likely to stay in effect The Times of Northwest Indiana, Jun 27, 2025
After the U.S. Supreme Court upholds Texas's statute, Indiana's age-verification law for adult sites is expected to remain in force. - Age-verification mandate for adult websites can take effect The Times of Northwest Indiana, Aug 18, 2024
The 7th Circuit lets Indiana's law take effect, pausing the district court injunction while the Supreme Court weighs the similar Texas law. - Indiana law requiring stricter age verification for adult websites now in effect Lakeshore Public Media, Aug 16, 2024
SEA 17 takes effect after the appeals court lifts the hold; notes Pornhub had already blocked Indiana users. Statehouse story by Brandon Smith (IPB/WFYI) republished by Lakeshore. - Pornhub preparing to pull out of Indiana The Times of Northwest Indiana, Jun 20, 2024
Pornhub's parent company prepares to block all Indiana residents ahead of Senate Enrolled Act 17, authored by LaPorte County Sen. Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores).
Local lawmakers
- Mike Bohacek (R), Indiana Senate, District 8: Author; voted yes (44-1), SB 17 (2024). Source
- Ed Charbonneau (R), Indiana Senate, District 5 (Valparaiso): Co-author; voted yes, SB 17 (2024). Source
- Dan Dernulc (R), Indiana Senate, District 1 (Highland): Voted yes, SB 17 (2024). Source
- Rick Niemeyer (R), Indiana Senate, District 6 (Lowell): Voted yes in committee and on the floor, SB 17 (2024). Source
- Rodney Pol Jr. (D), Indiana Senate, District 4 (Chesterton): Voted yes in committee and on the floor, SB 17 (2024). Source
- Lonnie Randolph (D), Indiana Senate, District 2 (East Chicago): Voted yes, SB 17 (2024). Source
- John F. Curran (R), Illinois Senate, District 41: Co-sponsor, SB 3945 (2026), which stalled in committee. Source
- Darby A. Hills (R), Illinois Senate, District 26: Co-sponsor, SB 3945 (2026), which stalled in committee. Source
- Mary Edly-Allen (D), Illinois Senate, District 31: Co-sponsor, SB 2590 (2023-24), which died. Source
- Rachel Ventura (D), Illinois Senate, District 43: Co-sponsor, SB 2590 (2023-24), which died. Source
Local court cases
- Free Speech Coalition v. Rokita (appeal) (US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Chicago, No. 24-2174, filed Jul 10, 2024). Let Indiana's law take effect in August 2024 and, after the Supreme Court's 2025 ruling in FSC v. Paxton, sent the case back with instructions to rule for the state on the First Amendment claim. Closed July 15, 2025. Source
Sources
Each state's status comes from its own page, where every fact is sourced: Illinois, Indiana.
- Age-verification mandate for adult websites easily bypassed (The Times of Northwest Indiana)News · Dec 15, 2025
- Pornhub preparing to pull out of Indiana (The Times of Northwest Indiana)News · Jun 20, 2024
- Age-verification mandate for adult websites can take effect (The Times of Northwest Indiana)News · Aug 18, 2024
- Age verification for adult websites likely to stay in effect (The Times of Northwest Indiana)News · Jun 27, 2025
- Indiana law requiring stricter age verification for adult websites now in effect (Lakeshore Public Media)News · Aug 16, 2024
- Mike Bohacek, SB 17 (2024) (fastdemocracy.com)Legislature
- John F. Curran, SB 3945 (2026), which stalled in committee (my.ilga.gov)Legislature
- Mary Edly-Allen, SB 2590 (2023-24), which died (my.ilga.gov)Legislature
- Free Speech Coalition v. Rokita (appeal) (US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, Chicago)Court · Jul 10, 2024
- Geolocation accuracy (MaxMind (IP geolocation provider))Geolocation · 2025
- GeoIP accuracy comparison (MaxMind (IP geolocation provider))Geolocation · 2026
- IP Geolocation Databases: Unreliable? (ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review)Geolocation · Apr 1, 2011
- RFC 8805: A Format for Self-Published IP Geolocation Feeds (IETF)Geolocation · Aug 1, 2020
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.