Florida saw VPN demand surge 1,150% in the first four hours of 2025 after adult website Pornhub blocked state access in response to new age verification requirements, according to research firm vpnMentor.

The spike followed Pornhub parent company Aylo’s December 18 announcement that it would restrict Florida users from accessing its platform, which prompted an initial 51% increase in VPN demand that day. Virtual private networks allow users to mask their location and encrypt internet traffic, effectively bypassing regional access restrictions.

Florida’s House Bill 3, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in March 2024, requires age verification for adult website access and authorizes fines up to $50,000 for non-compliance. The law took effect January 1.

Florida becomes the 13th state where Pornhub has suspended operations over age verification laws. Similar restrictions previously triggered VPN demand increases of 967% in Utah and 234.8% in Texas, vpnMentor reported.

Also read: Pornhub Takes Site Offline in Texas Over Age Verification Law 

The platform, which recorded 3 billion US visits in January 2024, has also blocked access in Kentucky, Indiana, Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, Montana, Mississippi, Virginia, and Arkansas.

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