With a warning video in opposition to the nation's new online age verification law, which took effect on May 3, Cherie DeVille is spearheading the push for Pornhub's online withdrawal from Utah.
Instead of finding Pornhub.com, Utah residents trying to access the website will find DeVille, a member of the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee, explaining why they can no longer access the website because of the SB 287: Online Pornography Viewing Age Requirements law, which now mandates that people prove their age in order to access any website with adult content.
DeVille explains in the 90-second video, "As you may know, your elected officials in Utah are requiring us to verify your age before allowing you access to our website. 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, and in fact, will put children and your privacy at risk. In addition, mandating age verification without proper enforcement gives platforms the opportunity to choose whether or not to comply. As we've seen in other states, this just drives traffic to sites with far fewer safety measures in place. Very few sites are able to compare to the robust trust and safety measures we currently have in place. To protect children and user privacy, any legislation must be enforced against all platforms offering adult content. The safety of our users is one of our biggest concerns. We believe that the best and most effective solution for protecting children and adults alike is to identify users by their device and allow access to age-restricted materials and websites based on that identification. Until a real solution is offered, we have made the difficult decision to completely disable access to our website in Utah. Please contact your representatives before it is too late and demand device-based verification solutions that make the internet safer while also respecting your privacy."
DeVille believes that Pornhub's courageous response to Utah's law—blocking users from the state—will draw attention to the dangers these regulations may cause and spur politicians to find better alternatives that safeguard children without jeopardizing their privacy and security.
In the article "Pornhub Blocks All of Utah From Its Site" by Samantha Cole at Vice.com, Vice/Motherboard delves into the details.
DeVille is an exclusive Brazzers contract star that is signed with OC Modeling.
