Is Pornhub blocked in West Virginia?

Why is Pornhub blocked in West Virginia?

PCMag reported on June 12, 2026, the day HB 4412 took effect, that West Virginia was the most recent state to lose access to Aylo's sites, and its July and August updates still list the state as blocked; the Austin American-Statesman's August 3 list includes it too. Pornhub's blocks in 2026 appear to take a quieter form than the protest page it used in earlier states: the Virginian-Pilot reported in July 2026 that in Virginia, Pornhub shows only non-porn videos and won't let visitors create an account. A login wall like that would explain why local outlets haven't reported a block. An Aylo spokesperson's July 29 remark to Politico, that Missouri was the most recent state where Pornhub stopped 'letting anyone access the site', likely refers to a full shutdown rather than this login-only mode.

When did Pornhub block West Virginia?

Pornhub stopped serving West Virginia on June 12, 2026. West Virginia law (HB 4412) took effect June 12, 2026.

Is porn banned in West Virginia?

No. West Virginia doesn't ban porn. West Virginia law (HB 4412) sets age-verification rules for adult sites, and Pornhub chose to block West Virginia rather than follow them.

What does HB 4412 require?

Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish or distribute sexual material harmful to minors on a website or application where more than 33.33% of total material is such material. News organizations are exempt; ISPs, search engines, app distribution providers, web browser providers and cloud providers are not liable merely for providing access.

Enforcement: Both: Attorney General (injunctions and civil penalties) and private suits by the minor, a parent or guardian, or another person legally permitted to act for the minor (§ 49A-1-104(d)).

Is it illegal to watch porn in West Virginia?

No. West Virginia law (HB 4412) 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 West Virginia?

West Virginia law (HB 4412) accepts these methods: digital identification (including the West Virginia Mobile ID); commercial or government age verification system using government-issued ID; commercial or government age verification system using public or private transactional data. Each site chooses which ones to offer.

Can porn sites keep my ID in West Virginia?

Sites and third-party verifiers may not retain identifying information after access is granted (data held before or outside the verification process is excepted) and must follow NIST best practices to limit the personal information passed between entities (§ 49A-1-102(b)-(c)). The Office of Technology may propose rules on retaining, protecting and disposing of verification data, limiting its use to compliance, and requiring any verification agent to be based in the US (§ 49A-1-106).

Is it illegal to use a VPN in West Virginia?

West Virginia law (HB 4412) sets duties for websites. It does not create a penalty for people who use a VPN.

Why does Pornhub think I'm in West Virginia?

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 Maryland can appear to be in West Virginia.

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.