A Republican-backed bill requiring Arizonans to verify their age before accessing online pornography advanced through the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday despite privacy concerns and opposition from civil rights groups.

House Bill 2112, sponsored by Rep. Nick Kupper, R-Surprise, would mandate that online pornography sites verify users are at least 18 years old using government-issued identification or private transactional data. The legislation mirrors laws passed in Louisiana, Texas, and other states that have sought to restrict minors’ access to explicit content online.

“This is a growing problem that we must address,” Kupper said, arguing that current parental controls and device-level restrictions are inadequate.

The bill passed along party lines, with Republicans supporting the measure and Democrats opposing it. The legislation now moves to the full House of Representatives for further debate.

Opponents, including digital rights advocates and representatives of the adult entertainment industry, argue that similar laws have been ineffective in other states. Mike Stabile, director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition, warned that such laws push users to illicit offshore websites that don’t comply with U.S. regulations and sometimes host illegal material, including child sexual abuse content.

“There is a giant internet. There is social media, there are websites that are outside the compliance of the United States that have grown exponentially,” Stabile told lawmakers. “What we’re seeing in states where these laws have passed is that traffic is shifting to illegal sites, where enforcement is impossible.”

According to data from Louisiana, which enacted a similar law in 2023, traffic to regulated sites like Pornhub dropped by 80% in the state while searches for VPNs and unregulated websites surged.

Despite this, Kupper remained firm in his stance, stating that most minors would not be savvy enough to bypass the law.

“The vast majority of minors are not going to be computer geniuses and get around this,” he said.

Beyond concerns over effectiveness, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arizona and other advocacy groups warned of potential constitutional violations and privacy risks.

Marilyn Rodriguez, a lobbyist for the ACLU, argued that the bill amounts to government censorship and could result in blocking access to educational websites that discuss sex education, LGBTQ+ issues, and reproductive health.

“This is about much more than just pornography,” Rodriguez said. “It could impact access to information that is vital for young people, particularly those seeking health resources or information about their identities.”

Lawmakers amended the bill to address privacy concerns, adding language prohibiting websites from retaining user data or transmitting it to government entities. However, critics say the risks remain, as forcing users to submit identification online could expose them to potential data breaches and misuse.

Unlike earlier drafts, the bill no longer requires the Arizona Attorney General to investigate violations. Instead, it allows private citizens to file lawsuits against websites that fail to comply.

Arizona has previously attempted to regulate online access to sexually explicit material. In 2000, a law expanding the state’s “harmful to minors” statute to include the Internet was declared unconstitutional.

Rep. Lupe Contreras, D-Cashion, who opposed the bill, emphasized that parents—not the government—should regulate children’s internet access.

“My wife and I, we have parental rights to their devices. We oversee their devices,” Contreras said. “I would hope that most would do that.”

With committee approval, HB 2112 moves to the full Arizona House of Representatives for debate. If passed, Arizona would join many states implementing age verification mandates for online content, though legal challenges are likely.

Critics argue that forcing websites to verify identities could chill free speech, while supporters contend that restricting minors’ access to pornography is a necessary step toward protecting children.