Porn Sites Must Block VPNs Under Indiana Law

Indiana is trying a new way to control access to online porn. State officials say that porn websites should block users who visit through VPNs. According to them, this would help enforce age-verification laws and stop minors from seeing adult content.

Indiana already has a law that requires porn websites to check that users are over 18. In many cases, this means asking people to upload an ID or use a third-party verification service. The state argues that VPNs make these checks useless, because VPNs hide a user’s real location.

In simple terms, Indiana believes that if porn sites allow VPN traffic, they are helping people avoid the law.

Why VPNs Are Being Blamed

A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, hides your IP address and protects your internet activity. People use VPNs for many normal reasons: privacy, security on public Wi-Fi, or avoiding tracking by advertisers. VPNs are legal in the U.S. and widely used by regular users, not just tech experts.

Indiana officials see VPNs differently. They treat them as a tool for avoiding rules. Their suggestion is clear: porn sites should block VPN users to prove they are following the law.

Blocking VPNs Doesn’t Really Work

In reality, blocking VPNs is hard and often ineffective. VPN services change their IP addresses all the time, and many VPN connections look the same as normal office or school internet traffic. When websites block VPNs, they often block innocent users too.

At the same time, people who really want to bypass restrictions usually find another way. This means VPN blocking mostly hurts regular users, while doing little to actually stop minors.

Privacy Takes the Hit

Privacy groups warn that this idea could cause bigger problems. If porn websites start blocking VPNs, other websites may follow. People who rely on VPNs for privacy or safety could slowly lose access to parts of the internet.

Many adults also do not want to upload personal ID just to watch legal porn. Forcing people to choose between privacy and access pushes them away from the system.

A Growing Pattern

Indiana is not the only state doing this. Other states have passed similar age-verification laws, and VPN use often increases right after. This suggests that people are trying to protect their privacy, not break the law.

There is still no federal ban on VPNs in the U.S. Using a VPN is legal. But by pressuring porn websites to block them, states may limit VPN use without banning it directly.

What This Means Going Forward

If Indiana succeeds, other states may copy this approach. What started as a debate about porn could turn into a wider fight over online privacy and access.

The key question is simple: should using a VPN make someone suspicious by default, or should online privacy remain normal?