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How the American war on porn could change the way you use the internet

Papers please: for millions of Americans, accessing online pornography now requires a government ID. It could have global implications for the future of the web.

Kelsy Burke, a sociology professor at the University of Nebraska and author of The Pornography Wars, believes the age verification laws are part of a wider moral battle taking place all over the world. In June, for example, a report from 404 Media found a company used for age and identity verification on platforms including TikTok, Uber and X left scans of drivers licenses exposed online and vulnerable to hackers. In the US at least, it's now up to the Supreme CourtPornhub's parent company Aylo says it's ready to dedicate significant resources and manpower to building a comprehensive device-based age verification system, but it needs partners in government and industry to make it work.

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