Age-verification & access laws

Laws that restrict access to adult sites or require age verification, by jurisdiction. Each entry links to a public source and is dated. 35 of 38 on record are in force; 36 mandate age verification.

JurisdictionLawStatusAVEffective
IowaIowa age-verification law · HF 864in forcerequired2026-07-01
West VirginiaWest Virginia age-verification law · HB 4412in forcerequired2026-06-12
AustraliaAustralia age-assurance codes for online pornography · Online Safety Act 2021 - Phase 2 industry codes (age-restricted material)in forcerequired2026-03-09
GermanyGermany youth-media reform (operating-system and app-store duties) · Sixth Media Amendment State Treaty (Sechster Medienänderungsstaatsvertrag), amending the JMStV — 2025 reformin force—2025-12-01
MissouriMissouri age-verification rule · 15 CSR 60-18.010 (AG regulation)in forcerequired2025-11-30
ItalyItaly age-verification requirement for pornographic sites · AGCOM Resolution 96/25/CONS (Caivano Decree, Law 159/2023 art. 13-bis)in forcerequired2025-11-12
OhioOhio age-verification law · HB 96 (biennial budget)in forcerequired2025-09-30
ArizonaArizona age-verification law · HB 2112in forcerequired2025-09-26
North DakotaNorth Dakota age-verification law · HB 1561in forcerequired2025-08-01
United KingdomOnline Safety Act 2023 (age assurance) · Online Safety Act 2023in forcerequired2025-07-25
IrelandIreland Online Safety Code age-assurance rules · Coimisiun na Mean Online Safety Code (Part B)in forcerequired2025-07-21
European UnionEU Commission guidelines on protection of minors (DSA Art.28) — non-binding · Commission Guidelines on protection of minors online (Art. 28(1) DSA)Guidance (non-binding)—2025-07-14
GeorgiaGeorgia age-verification law · SB 351in forcerequired2025-07-01
South DakotaSouth Dakota age-verification law · HB 1053in forcerequired2025-07-01
WyomingWyoming age-verification law · HB 43in forcerequired2025-07-01
FloridaFlorida age-verification law · HB 3in forcerequired2025-01-01
South CarolinaSouth Carolina age-verification law · HB 3424in forcerequired2025-01-01
TennesseeTennessee age-verification law · SB 1792 (Protect Tennessee Minors Act)in forcerequired2025-01-01
OklahomaOklahoma age-verification law · SB 1959in forcerequired2024-11-01
AlabamaAlabama age-verification law · HB 164in forcerequired2024-10-01
IndianaIndiana age-verification law · SB 17in forcerequired2024-08-16
NebraskaNebraska age-verification law · LB 1092 (Online Age Verification Liability Act)in forcerequired2024-07-19
KentuckyKentucky age-verification law · HB 278in forcerequired2024-07-15
IdahoIdaho age-verification law · HB 498in forcerequired2024-07-01
KansasKansas age-verification law · SB 394in forcerequired2024-07-01
FranceSREN law age-verification regime · Loi SREN (Law of 21 May 2024)in forcerequired2024-05-21
MontanaMontana age-verification law · SB 544in forcerequired2024-01-01
North CarolinaNorth Carolina age-verification law · HB 8in forcerequired2024-01-01
European UnionDigital Services Act — protection of minors (adult VLOPs) · Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (DSA)in forcerequired2023-12-20
TexasTexas age-verification law · HB 1181in forcerequired2023-09-19
ArkansasArkansas age-verification law · Act 612 (SB 66)in forcerequired2023-07-31
MississippiMississippi age-verification law · SB 2346in forcerequired2023-07-01
VirginiaVirginia age-verification law · SB 1515in forcerequired2023-07-01
UtahUtah age-verification law · SB 287in forcerequired2023-05-03
LouisianaLouisiana age-verification law · Act 440 (HB 142)in forcerequired2023-01-01
GermanyJMStV youth media protection (age verification) · JMStV para 4(2) / 24(4)in forcerequired2003-04-01
CanadaCanada pornography age-verification bill · Bill S-209 (45th Parliament) - Protecting Young Persons from Exposure to Pornography Actproposedrequired—
SpainSpain draft law on protection of minors in digital environments · Proyecto de Ley Organica 121/000052 (proteccion de menores en entornos digitales)proposedrequired—

See also: which sites enforce age verification, and with what tool.