--- title: "There’s a Ridiculously Easy Way to Bypass Louisiana’s New Porn Law" description: "Beyond the new Louisiana porn law's overt data risks and air of surveillance, the state has another serious problem: the so-called blockade doesn't work." date: "2023-01-09" modified: "2023-01-09" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/bypass-louisiana-porn-law" categories: - "Future Society" tags: - "pornography" - "surveillance" - "surveillance state" - "the digest" --- # There’s a Ridiculously Easy Way to Bypass Louisiana’s New Porn Law ![Beyond the new Louisiana porn law's overt data risks and air of surveillance, the state has another serious problem: the so-called blockade doesn't work.]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## That Doesn't Work The state of Louisiana just enacted a [new porn access law]() requiring internet users to upload a digital version of a government-issued ID to some fairly sketchy third-party services to access popular adult websites like Pornhub. The law, according to its backers, seeks to protect children from premature porn exposure. But beyond the law's [overt data risks]() — not to mention the slippery slope it poses to surveillance and even [moral policing]() — there's another pretty serious problem with the state's attempted digital barricade: it straight up just doesn't work. "All you gotta do is turn the WiFi off," a Louisiana-based source told *Futurism*, explaining that he discovered the trick while attempting to access Pornhub in an area with spotty internet service. "And when the video starts you can turn the WiFi back on so it plays clearer." In other words, switching to 5G seems to bypass the third-party barrier — no VPN required. It does require a smartphone, but [research shows]() that's where the vast majority of porn gets watched these days anyway. "Now if you want to watch porn on your computer like a grandpaw," the source warned, "then you're fucked." ## Extremely Dumb A quick scroll through Louisiana Reddit appeared to confirm the workaround. "Dumb," [wrote]() one Reddit commenter. "Turn your wifi off and use 5G." "Turning on my phone's mobile data instead of wifi was all it took to bypass it," [provided]() yet another. And if that's not enough, one user even discovered that even when using WiFi, the law — which supposedly applies to all websites comprised of at least "33.3 percent" or more pornographic content — didn't even block all porn-specific platforms, some of which are known to have [shockingly horrendous]() content moderation practices. "I tested this out yesterday w/ Pornhub, Xvideos and XHamster," [added]() another user. "Pornhub was the only one that required this, and that was when I was connected to my WiFi at home. If I connected to it using my data, I did not get the prompt." In other words, the Louisiana law is ill-informed at best — and broken in practice. **More on Louisiana's extremely silly law:** [New Louisiana Law Forces You to Upload ID to Watch Porn Online]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()