Major adult sites operating in Texas have published "Texas Health and Human Services" disclaimers, which inform users about unproven health risks associated with adult content consumption.
According to The Verge, the move comes after a US appeals court temporarily overturned an order to block a Texas law requiring porn sites to verify users' ages and display government health warnings.
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A man surfs the internet in Beijing on June 15, 2009.
Texas Adult Sites Displaying Health Warnings
A prominent network of adult sites shows Texas visitors pop-up disclaimers outlining unverified and unscientific claims regarding the risks of viewing adult content. These disclaimers assert that porn could be "potentially biologically addictive" and "proven to impair human brain development."
404 Media reported that the disclaimer is now visible on all websites within the Vixen Media Group, which includes well-known platforms like Deeper, Blacked, and Vixen. These disclaimers are mandated by a Texas age verification law, known as HB 1181, signed into law by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in June.
However, after a legal challenge from a coalition of adult entertainment activists and companies, such as the Free Speech Coalition and Mindgeek, the law was temporarily blocked from taking effect on its scheduled date of September.
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Claiming Assertions Without Scientific Evidence
It is unclear precisely when these disclaimers were introduced, but they seem to be a response to Texas' HB 1181, initially slated to take effect on September 1. However, the law faced significant legal opposition. The displayed pop-up contains assertions not substantiated by scientific evidence.
These claims include unfounded allegations that pornography is "biologically" addictive, has a detrimental impact on brain function, and hinders proper brain development.
The pop-up disclaimers also assert that porn is linked to an increased demand for prostitution, child exploitation, and child pornography while also suggesting associations with emotional and mental health issues.
A district judge decided to halt its implementation in late August after a coalition of adult entertainment activists and companies, which included prominent names like Pornhub, Brazzers, and the Free Speech Coalition, raised concerns about its constitutionality.
District Judge David Alan Ezra, who previously halted the Texas law implementation, questioned the authenticity of these claims. In his August 31 decision, The Verge reported that Ezra pointed out that the health agency responsible for such findings and declarations had not endorsed these statements despite being labeled "Texas Health and Human Services."
Despite the injunction on the law, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily reinstated it on September 19, pausing the law's enforcement while scheduling arguments for the future. No explanation was given, but the court indicated that the appeal process would be expedited before the next oral argument panel.
Several states have pursued regulations to govern the operations of adult websites, which have consequently shaped how these platforms function within different regions of the United States.
In response to Arkansas passing an age verification law in August, Pornhub's operator, MindGeek, took steps to block all Arkansas-based users. This practice extended to several other states with similar laws, including Mississippi, Utah, and Virginia.
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