Adult content website Pornhub has blocked access to would-be users in Utah, a day before a new state age verification law goes into effect.
The new law requires pornographic websites to verify the age of users each time they use the website or potentially face lawsuits.
Utah residents visiting the website are now greeted with a message arguing that the law will put privacy "at risk".
Pornography was declared a public health crisis in Utah in 2016.
The Utah age verification law, known as SB287, was passed by state lawmakers and signed by governor Spencer Cox in March.
As part of the law, pornographic companies must verify the age of users using a "digitised verification card", which officials say will help prevent young people from accessing sexually explicit content.
Starting on Tuesday, Utah residents who attempted to access Pornhub instead saw a video message featuring adult film actress - and one-time US presidential hopeful - Cherie DeVille.
"While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users," Deville says in the video.
"In fact, [it] will put children and your privacy at risk."
The video calls on lawmakers to "identify users by their device" rather than by their digital ID, and argues that the move may drive users to "sites with far fewer safety measures in place".
The same message is shown to Utah users who attempt to access other adult websites run by Pornhub's parent company, Canadian-run and Cyprus-headquartered MindGeek.
A similar law requiring a digital ID went into effect in January in Louisiana, where Pornhub is still available.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65464931
The new law requires pornographic websites to verify the age of users each time they use the website or potentially face lawsuits.
Utah residents visiting the website are now greeted with a message arguing that the law will put privacy "at risk".
Pornography was declared a public health crisis in Utah in 2016.
The Utah age verification law, known as SB287, was passed by state lawmakers and signed by governor Spencer Cox in March.
As part of the law, pornographic companies must verify the age of users using a "digitised verification card", which officials say will help prevent young people from accessing sexually explicit content.
Starting on Tuesday, Utah residents who attempted to access Pornhub instead saw a video message featuring adult film actress - and one-time US presidential hopeful - Cherie DeVille.
"While safety and compliance are at the forefront of our mission, giving your ID card every time you want to visit an adult platform is not the most effective solution for protecting our users," Deville says in the video.
"In fact, [it] will put children and your privacy at risk."
The video calls on lawmakers to "identify users by their device" rather than by their digital ID, and argues that the move may drive users to "sites with far fewer safety measures in place".
The same message is shown to Utah users who attempt to access other adult websites run by Pornhub's parent company, Canadian-run and Cyprus-headquartered MindGeek.
A similar law requiring a digital ID went into effect in January in Louisiana, where Pornhub is still available.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65464931
