Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has filed lawsuits against multiple adult content platforms for allegedly violating the state’s age verification laws. The legal action targets popular pornography sites such as XVideos, XNXX, BangBros, and Girls Gone Wild, as well as the adult advertising network Traffic Factory. The lawsuits stem from Florida’s HB 3, a law passed in March 2024 that took effect in January 2025, requiring platforms hosting material deemed harmful to minors to implement age verification measures and block access for users under 18.
Uthmeier accused the companies of knowingly profiting from underage users, stating that the state is taking legal action against online pornographers who exploit children for financial gain. The law aims to protect minors from exposure to explicit content by enforcing stricter access controls. However, the lawsuit comes amid broader legal challenges surrounding HB 3, which also includes provisions regulating teen social media use.
Earlier this year, a federal judge temporarily blocked parts of the law after NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association, trade groups representing major social media platforms, argued that the restrictions were unconstitutional. Uthmeier has since appealed the injunction to the Eleventh Circuit, signaling a continued legal battle over the state’s efforts to regulate online content.
While the current lawsuits focus on adult entertainment platforms, the broader implications of HB 3 highlight ongoing debates over digital privacy, free speech, and the responsibility of online services to protect minors. The outcome of these cases could set important precedents for how states regulate internet content in the future.
