Is Pornhub blocked in Mississippi?
Yes. Pornhub has blocked Mississippi since July 1, 2023. Mississippi law (SB 2346) took effect July 1, 2023.
Since July 1, 2023, Mississippi (SB 2346) makes websites where more than a third of the material is harmful to minors liable for damages if they do not verify that users are 18 or older, using a digital ID, government ID or transactional data, and bars keeping identifying data afterward. It is enforced through private lawsuits. Pornhub has blocked Mississippi since the law took effect in July 2023.
The law
| Status | Law in effect |
|---|---|
| Law | SB 2346 (text) |
| Citation | Miss. Code Ann. § 11-77-1 et seq. (Laws 2023, ch. 513) |
| Signed | April 18, 2023 |
| In effect | July 1, 2023 |
| Who it covers | Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material harmful to minors on the internet from a website where more than 33 1/3 percent of the total material is harmful to minors. Bona fide news and public-interest content is exempt; internet service providers, search engines and cloud service providers are not liable for merely providing access. |
| Accepted ID methods | digitized identification card; commercial age verification system using government-issued identification; commercially reasonable method relying on public or private transactional data |
| Data rules | The site and any third party that performs the age check may not retain identifying information after access is granted; a site that knowingly retains it is liable to the individual for damages, court costs and attorney fees. |
| Enforcement | Private right of action (civil liability for damages). The act gives the Attorney General no separate enforcement power. |
| Penalties | Damages resulting from a minor's access, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees; separate damages, costs and fees for knowingly retaining identifying information. No statutory fine. |
Why is Pornhub blocked in Mississippi?
Pornhub announced it would fully block Mississippi as the law took effect on July 1, 2023; WLBT and TechCrunch reported the block in place on July 3. Mississippi was still on PCMag's list of states where Pornhub is blocked in August 2026.
When did Pornhub block Mississippi?
Pornhub stopped serving Mississippi on July 1, 2023. Mississippi law (SB 2346) took effect July 1, 2023.
Is porn banned in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi doesn't ban porn. Mississippi law (SB 2346) sets age-verification rules for adult sites, and Pornhub chose to block Mississippi rather than follow them.
What does SB 2346 require?
Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute material harmful to minors on the internet from a website where more than 33 1/3 percent of the total material is harmful to minors. Bona fide news and public-interest content is exempt; internet service providers, search engines and cloud service providers are not liable for merely providing access.
Enforcement: Private right of action (civil liability for damages). The act gives the Attorney General no separate enforcement power.
Is it illegal to watch porn in Mississippi?
No. Mississippi law (SB 2346) puts its duties on websites, not on the people who visit them. Watching legal adult content is not a crime under it.
Separate state and federal laws on obscenity and child sexual abuse material apply everywhere, whatever a state's age-verification rules.
How do I verify my age for adult sites in Mississippi?
Mississippi law (SB 2346) accepts these methods: digitized identification card; commercial age verification system using government-issued identification; commercially reasonable method relying on public or private transactional data. Each site chooses which ones to offer.
Can porn sites keep my ID in Mississippi?
The site and any third party that performs the age check may not retain identifying information after access is granted; a site that knowingly retains it is liable to the individual for damages, court costs and attorney fees.
Is it illegal to use a VPN in Mississippi?
Mississippi law (SB 2346) sets duties for websites. It does not create a penalty for people who use a VPN.
Why does Pornhub think I'm in Mississippi?
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 Louisiana can appear to be in Mississippi.
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.
Timeline
Related laws
- HB 1126 (Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act, 2024) (effective Jul 1, 2024). Age verification for all users and parental consent for minors' accounts on social platforms. enforceable: 5th Cir. vacated injunction 2025-07-17; SCOTUS denied emergency relief 2025-08-14; 5th Cir. merits argued 2026-02-03 (NetChoice v. Fitch)
- HB 1224 (Mississippi Keeping Kids Safe Online Act, 2026) (effective Jul 1, 2026). Bars covered interactive computer services from making false or misleading statements to minors or their parents about whether the service is addictive or safe, or failing to warn of its harms; services with addictive design features are treated as defective products. Attorney General civil penalties up to $10,000 per instance; parents may sue when violations cause a minor's repeated exposure to material harmful to minors. Also requires school internet-safety policies and social media safety instruction. Its exemption for video streaming services does not extend to services offered through websites covered by § 11-77-1 et seq. in effect (approved by the governor 2026-04-08)
Sources
- SB 2346 (2023 Regular Session), as sent to the governor, Mississippi Legislature (billstatus.ls.state.ms.us) Legislature · Mar 31, 2023
- SB 2346 (2023 Regular Session) bill history, Mississippi Legislature (billstatus.ls.state.ms.us) Legislature · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- HB 1224 (2026 Regular Session), as sent to the governor, Mississippi Legislature (billstatus.ls.state.ms.us) Legislature · Apr 6, 2026
- HB 1224 (2026 Regular Session) bill history, Mississippi Legislature (billstatus.ls.state.ms.us) Legislature · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Pornhub blocks access in Mississippi, Virginia and Utah amid changing laws (TechCrunch) (techcrunch.com) News · Jul 3, 2023
- Two new Mississippi laws are designed to protect kids from easy access to porn (WLBT) (wlbt.com) News · Jul 3, 2023
- Sorry, No Pornhub Access in 25 States and 3 Countries (PCMag, via Yahoo News) (yahoo.com) News · Aug 28, 2026
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.