Is Pornhub blocked in Idaho?
Yes. Pornhub blocks visitors in Idaho. Idaho law (H 498) took effect July 1, 2024.
Since July 1, 2024, Idaho law (H 498) has required commercial websites where more than a third of the material is harmful to minors to verify that users are 18 or older, and bars them from keeping the identifying data. It is enforced only through private lawsuits, with statutory damages of at least $10,000. Pornhub has blocked Idaho since late June 2024.
The law
| Status | Law in effect |
|---|---|
| Law | H 498 (text) |
| Citation | Idaho Code §§ 6-3801 to 6-3809 (2024 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 113) |
| Signed | March 20, 2024 |
| In effect | July 1, 2024 |
| Who it covers | Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish material harmful to minors on the internet from a website where more than one-third of total material is harmful to minors (a three-part, Miller-style definition). Bona fide news and news-gathering organizations are exempt; internet service providers, search engines, browsers, device makers and cloud providers are not liable merely for providing access. |
| Accepted ID methods | digitized identification card; commercial age verification system using government-issued identification; commercial age verification system using public or private transactional data |
| Data rules | A commercial entity or third party that performs the age verification may not retain any identifying information of the individual after verification has been performed (Idaho Code § 6-3803(2)). |
| Enforcement | Private right of action only: any person exposed to material in violation of the law, including the parent or guardian of a child, may sue. The act says it is enforced exclusively through these private suits; the state, local governments and their officers may not enforce it (§ 6-3807). |
| Penalties | Injunctive relief, nominal and compensatory damages, statutory damages of at least $10,000, and court costs and attorney fees. Suits may be brought up to four years after the claim accrues. |
Why is Pornhub blocked in Idaho?
Aylo announced in June 2024 that it would block Idaho, along with Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky and Nebraska, rather than verify ages; Idaho visitors were cut off in late June 2024, before the July 1 effective date. Student press reported the block still in place in September 2024, and PCMag listed Idaho as blocked in June 2026. The exact first day is not confirmed.
Is porn banned in Idaho?
No. Idaho doesn't ban porn. Idaho law (H 498) sets age-verification rules for adult sites, and Pornhub chose to block Idaho rather than follow them.
What does H 498 require?
Commercial entities that knowingly and intentionally publish material harmful to minors on the internet from a website where more than one-third of total material is harmful to minors (a three-part, Miller-style definition). Bona fide news and news-gathering organizations are exempt; internet service providers, search engines, browsers, device makers and cloud providers are not liable merely for providing access.
Enforcement: Private right of action only: any person exposed to material in violation of the law, including the parent or guardian of a child, may sue. The act says it is enforced exclusively through these private suits; the state, local governments and their officers may not enforce it (§ 6-3807).
Is it illegal to watch porn in Idaho?
No. Idaho law (H 498) puts its duties on websites, not on the people who visit them. Watching legal adult content is not a crime under it.
Separate state and federal laws on obscenity and child sexual abuse material apply everywhere, whatever a state's age-verification rules.
How do I verify my age for adult sites in Idaho?
Idaho law (H 498) accepts these methods: digitized identification card; commercial age verification system using government-issued identification; commercial age verification system using public or private transactional data. Each site chooses which ones to offer.
Can porn sites keep my ID in Idaho?
A commercial entity or third party that performs the age verification may not retain any identifying information of the individual after verification has been performed (Idaho Code § 6-3803(2)).
Is it illegal to use a VPN in Idaho?
Idaho law (H 498) sets duties for websites. It does not create a penalty for people who use a VPN.
Why does Pornhub think I'm in Idaho?
Websites estimate where you are from your IP address, not your street address. Mobile carriers and some internet providers route traffic through regional hubs that can sit across a state line, so a phone in Nevada can appear to be in Idaho.
When a site shows another state's notice, the cause is usually where your network's IP address is registered, not the law where you are.
Timeline
Related laws
- H 542 (2026), Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act (effective Jul 1, 2026). Covered social media platforms must estimate whether account holders are Idaho children 16 or younger and obtain verifiable parental consent for their accounts, with limits on addictive features. Enforced by the Attorney General and through a private right of action. in effect (signed 2026-04-02; 2026 Idaho Sess. Laws ch. 268)
Sources
- H 498 (2024) bill status, Idaho Legislature (legislature.idaho.gov) Legislature · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- House Bill No. 498 (2024), bill text, Idaho Legislature (legislature.idaho.gov) Legislature · 2024
- H 542 (2026) Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act, bill status, Idaho Legislature (legislature.idaho.gov) Legislature · accessed Oct 26, 2026
- Idaho to join list of states requiring age verification on pornography sites (Idaho Reports, Idaho PTV) (blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org) News · Mar 14, 2024
- Pornhub is blocking users from viewing its content in 5 more states due to age verification laws (Scripps News) (scrippsnews.com) News · Jun 2024
- Pornhub Officially Blocks Users in Another State (Newsweek) (newsweek.com) News · 2024
- Breaking down what House Bill 498 means for Idaho residents (The Argonaut, University of Idaho) (uiargonaut.com) News · Sep 24, 2024
- Sorry, No Pornhub Access in 24 States and 3 Countries (PCMag, via Yahoo Tech) (tech.yahoo.com) News · Jun 12, 2026
This page is general information, not legal advice. Last verified October 26, 2026 by the Editorial Team. See something wrong or out of date? Report a correction. How we work: methodology.