Age-verification regulations do not prove effective, suggests a recent research analysis.
In a recent working paper, researchers have highlighted the unintended consequences of age-verification laws, suggesting that these regulations may inadvertently drive users towards less-regulated, potentially riskier parts of the internet.
The study, yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a journal, was conducted by researchers from New York University and other universities. They found a 51% traffic reduction of searches to Pornhub in states with age-verification laws, a significant decline that raises questions about the effectiveness of these laws.
One of the key findings of the study is the increase in the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by internet users. In states with age-verification laws, there was a 23.6% increase in searches for VPNs, indicating that users are seeking ways to bypass age checks. This circumvention behavior undermines the laws’ protective intent and raises new privacy and security concerns.
Google Trends data, while not measuring website visits or actual web traffic, is reliable for tracking population-level behavioral patterns. Researchers conducted a correlation analysis and found a strong correlation between Google Trends volume and actual Pornhub and XVideos traffic data from SimilarWeb. The study used a method called synthetic control to analyze Trends results, creating a "digital twin" or synthetic version of the state to show what could have happened if the state had not passed the age-verification laws.
The study also found that a large non-compliant platform, XVideos, saw a 48.1% increase in searches in states with age-verification laws. This shift in traffic from regulated to non-compliant platforms raises concerns about the safety and security of users, particularly minors.
The stringent age-verification requirements, such as uploading government IDs, facial recognition, or credit card verification, also pose privacy risks. Platforms and third-party age verification services collect sensitive personal information, increasing the risk of data breaches and identity theft. Critics highlight that such "honeypots" of data could become attractive targets for hackers, and the chilling effect on user participation may also reduce free expression online.
Moreover, the regulations impact search behavior for explicit content websites by driving users to search explicitly for VPNs, proxies, or other circumvention tools. They also increase queries about the legality and use of fake IDs or alternative age verification hacks. Additionally, the laws may push users, especially youth, to underground or less-moderated platforms where regulation is minimal, raising child safety concerns.
Beyond technical evasion, these laws affect labor rights and incomes within the digital sex work industry. Age-verification regimes complicate the ability of sex workers to legally provide content and generate income, as platforms become gatekeepers enforced with rigorous identity checks.
In Louisiana, where Pornhub still operates while complying, traffic has dropped 80%. This indicates that the stringent age-verification laws may not be effective in restricting access to explicit content.
The Supreme Court heard a case about age verification, Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, in January. As of January 1, Pornhub is blocked in several states with age-verification laws. The study's initial findings propose that these laws do not achieve their intended purpose, raising questions about the need for such regulations and the unintended consequences they may have.
- The study conducted by researchers from New York University and other universities found that a 51% traffic reduction of searches to Pornhub occurred in states with age-verification laws, questioning the effectiveness of these regulations.
- The increase in the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) by internet users was one of the key findings of the study, with a 23.6% increase in searches for VPNs in states with age-verification laws observed.
- Google Trends data was used in the study to analyze population-level behavioral patterns, revealing a strong correlation between Google Trends volume and actual Pornhub and XVideos traffic data.
- One of the concerns raised by the study is the shift in traffic from regulated to non-compliant platforms, such as a 48.1% increase in searches for XVideos in states with age-verification laws.
- Strict age-verification requirements pose privacy risks, as platforms and third-party age verification services collect sensitive personal information, increasing the risk of data breaches and identity theft.
