While France is preparing to introduce age control for Internet users wishing to visit pornographic sites, the State of Louisiana took the plunge in early January. It is the driving license which is used as proof of majority, via a third party.
It is probably a similar scenario which will play out in France, when the control of the age of the Net surfers will become reality to reach certain pornographic sites. In the state of Louisiana, Internet users presenting themselves at the door of the MindGeek network (owner of Pornhub, YouPorn, Redtube, Brazzers, etc.) must now prove their majority to watch the videos.
This change in access to these X sites results from a law taken in this State, in force since January 1st. The text does not only apply to MindGeek: it affects porn platforms in general, when they are accessible from Louisiana. But, observes the Ars Technica site on January 3, MindGeek is one of the first “big” operators to comply.
Internet users must show their driving license
In the mechanism chosen by MindGeek to allow local Internet users to pass the home page while respecting the law, everything relies on an external service provider, a company called AllPassTrust. This plays the role of intermediary between the Internet user and the site, by recovering proof of majority (here, it is the driving license which is mobilized).
Of course, using a VPN while routing its IP address through a geographic area than Louisiana makes MindGeek’s verification page disappear. But that requires taking out a subscription to a VPN provider and agreeing to pass your Internet connection — and therefore your interest in pornography — through this provider.
Age control also planned in France
The case of Louisiana inevitably echoes that, still very theoretical, of France. Indeed, we know that the government also wants to apply a filter at the entrance to X sites to protect minors. The track envisaged on this side of the Atlantic is the use of the bank card, with validation via a micro-payment, canceled in stride.
Other solutions exist – such as the choice of MindGeek and AllPassTrust, with a verification of a document informing your identity – but each has advantages and disadvantages. It is now a question of choosing the option with the best balance between efficiency, security and respect for privacy. There is no miracle solution on this ground, had judged the Cnil.
As in the case of Louisiana, there would be the use of an outside third party to liaise between the Internet user and site X in the event of use of the bank card, so as to prevent the latter from knowing the identity of the first. This mechanism will replace the home page asking the Internet user, on his honor, to confirm that he is indeed 18 years old. An ineffective filter.
In Louisiana, sites that violate the new law could be sued in civil proceedings – the text does not apply to platforms that are full of X content, which would oust certain social networks, such as Twitter or Reddit. In France, the option considered is blocking at the level of Internet access providers (an imperfect measure, because workarounds can be mobilized if you know a little about it).