Wisconsin Governor Vetoes Mandatory Age Verification for Adult Websites
Governor Tony Evers vetoed AB 105, citing privacy risks and constitutional concerns over mandatory ID checks for adult websites in Wisconsin.
Privacy Concerns Lead to Veto of Adult Content Age Verification in Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Governor Tony Evers has officially vetoed a bill that would have mandated age verification for Wisconsin residents accessing adult websites. The decision sets Wisconsin apart from a growing list of states moving to restrict digital access to mature content.
The legislation, known as Assembly Bill 105 (AB 105), sought to require any website where more than one-third of the content is deemed "harmful to minors" to implement "reasonable" age verification methods. Under the proposal, this would likely have involved users submitting digital copies of government-issued identification to gain access.
A "Burden" on Constitutional Rights
In a letter addressed to the state assembly, Governor Evers explained his firm opposition to the measure. He argued that the bill "imposes an intrusive burden on adults who are trying to access constitutionally protected materials."
The Governor’s veto message highlighted several key concerns:
— Governor Tony Evers has officially vetoed a bill that would have mandated age verification for Wisconsin residents accessing adult websites.
- Privacy: The risk of exposing residents' personal data.
- Data Security: The potential for the misuse of personally identifiable information collected by third-party sites.
- Legal Precedents: The potential infringement on First Amendment rights.
“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to this bill’s intrusion into the personal privacy of Wisconsin residents,” Evers wrote, echoing sentiments shared by civil liberties advocates.
Growing National Resistance
The Wisconsin American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had previously testified against the bill, warning that it created significant risks regarding surveillance and online privacy.
While more than two dozen states—including Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia—have successfully passed similar laws, the move has triggered a backlash from the industry. Most notably, Pornhub has responded to such mandates by completely blocking its services in states that require ID verification, rather than risk the liability of managing sensitive user data.
The Future of Verification
An earlier version of the Wisconsin bill included a controversial ban on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which are frequently used by residents in restricted states to bypass local age checks. Although that provision was removed in February, the debate over VPN regulation continues to gain momentum globally.
Despite the veto, Governor Evers indicated he is not entirely opposed to age-gating technology. He suggested that "device-based" methods—which verify a user's age via settings on a smartphone or computer rather than through a central website database—might offer a more secure and less intrusive path forward.
For now, however, Wisconsin internet users will not be required to show an ID to access the web.