A Republican state senator in New York has introduced legislation requiring age verification (AV) measures for users accessing pornography websites and adult entertainment platforms. Senate Bill S3591, introduced by State Sen. Jacob Ashby (R-East Greenbush), closely mirrors laws enacted in several Republican-controlled states, aiming to regulate access to adult content for minors.

The bill, referred to the New York State Senate Internet and Technology Committee, seeks to mandate age verification on pornography websites by requiring users to provide government-issued identification or other “reasonable methods” of age verification before accessing content.

Key elements of the bill include:

• Websites must verify that all users are 18 years or older before granting access.
• Websites may offer password-protected accounts for returning users, provided that age verification is conducted monthly and passwords are reset each month.
• A civil penalty of $50,000 per day for non-compliance is enforced by the New York Attorney General’s Office.
• Exemptions for news organizations.

A statement accompanying the bill underscores the perceived dangers of internet access for minors, particularly concerning explicit content.

“The internet is a dangerous place for children, rife with sexual material that is harmful to minors. The ease of access to this material is downright scary. This legislation seeks to prioritize the protection of children by requiring pornography websites to verify the age of its users.”

The bill argues that strict age verification measures will help mitigate the exposure of minors to explicit content, emphasizing that once a user’s age is verified, access to the website would be granted.

Ashby’s proposal follows a wave of similar AV laws enacted across the United States, particularly in Republican-led states such as Louisiana, Texas, and Utah. These laws have faced both support and legal challenges, with critics arguing that they raise privacy concerns, potential free speech issues, and the risk of government overreach.

Industry stakeholders, including major adult content platforms, have pushed back against these regulations, citing difficulties in implementing AV measures that balance security, user privacy, and compliance with legal frameworks. In some states, platforms like Pornhub have blocked access entirely rather than comply with restrictive verification laws.

If passed, Senate Bill S3591 would make New York one of the first Democrat-led states to introduce a Republican-backed age verification law for adult websites. The bill’s progress will likely be closely watched, especially given New York’s political landscape and potential legal challenges from civil liberties groups and industry representatives.

The New York Senate Internet and Technology Committee will review the bill before determining whether it moves forward for broader legislative debate.