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Pornhub is one of the world's largest adult entertainment websites. However, it has not been embraced by all countries. Instead, several decided to block Pornhub entirely for reasons that can be considered moral, religious, or legal. Let us take some of these countries where Pornhub is blocked and explain why such decisions have been reached.
In 2018, the Indian government asked ISPs to block nearly 900 porn sites, including Pornhub, deeming it inappropriate content that exposes the country's youth and its alarming increase in sexual crimes.
This move raised internet regulation debates and cultural concerns over internet freedom and the heavy usage of banned websites by the young generation, which puts others' rights to do and say in danger; hence, issues of harm and censorship arise.
China is one of the strictest countries globally regarding its internet censorship policies. Adult websites, like Pornhub.com, cannot be easily accessed by the Chinese audience. In contrast, the Chinese government keeps an eye on the Internet with the "Great Firewall," blocking access to its Chinese citizens into websites carrying what they deem inappropriate content, including pornography.
On the other hand, however, the adult site Pornhub restrictions are not alone in China. For years, the country has been cracking down on online pornography, often using the mantra of "concern for social morals" and the need to protect minors as an excuse.
Since 2016, Russia has been blocking adult websites, including Pornhub, based on "laws upholding morality and public health." Tighter internet monitoring has led to continuous content restrictions in the country's regard, putting Pornhub access and similar platforms under government bans.
Indonesia is a country that has high respect for the Islamic faith, which impacts society's norms, and hence, in places like Pornhub, among others, for example, morality heavily restricts them.
In fact, in 2018, the government of Indonesia tightened its grip on all adult content. It blocked not only Pornhub restrictions but other sites along with it, aimed at curbing the perceived negative effects brought about by the use of such media on the youth and the desire to maintain societal standards of modesty and decency as expected.
Pornhub access is banned from websites in yet another country, Turkey. In 2018, access to Pornhub was blocked in Turkey, this time because of the need to protect the public from "immoral and harmful" content. Again, it fits with long-running policies in Turkey, which are aimed at social protection, such as spreading family values and preventing children from explicit matters.
There has been a dramatic increase in censorship within Turkey over the years. While it tends to focus more on adult content to maintain a moral standard, this hasn't stopped most users from finding ways to bypass the restrictions by using VPNs and other tools.
PornHub has banned websites in countries such as India, Russia, and Indonesia due to the censorship of the Internet; InternetInternet accounts for moral, cultural, and political reasons by viewing it as a protector of society.
The decision to ban Pornhub emphasizes the tension between internet censorship and digital freedom. While some say the Internet was created to achieve open portals for accessing information, others feel it serves to uphold social and cultural standards.
