Missouri Implements Urgent Age Verification Law in 3 Days

UPDATE: Starting in just three days, Missouri will enforce a new law requiring mandatory age verification for online access to adult content. This significant move, effective November 30, 2025, will affect numerous websites and applications across the state, raising urgent concerns about privacy and security.

Under this law, any site hosting over 33% of “material harmful to minors” must verify users are over 18 years old before granting access. As Missouri joins a growing list of US states adopting similar age verification measures, experts warn this could lead to increased surveillance and data privacy risks.

The new regulations classify violations as “an unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful practice,” potentially leading to fines of up to $10,000 per day for non-compliance. Site operators can conduct age checks via digital identification or other government-issued documents, but the implications for user data retention remain a hot topic.

“By forcing everyone to hand over their most valuable and sensitive identity data, the law builds out a dangerous new surveillance infrastructure instead of actually keeping young people safe,” stated Molly Buckley from the Electronic Frontier Foundation.

Critics point out that the Missouri law mirrors similar legislation nationwide, raising fears about excessive monitoring and censorship. Notably, the requirement for major mobile operating systems, such as Google and Apple, to provide secure digital ID tools could complicate compliance, as these systems are not yet prepared for extensive age verification use.

John Perrino, a Senior Policy and Advocacy Expert at the Internet Society, emphasizes that users may feel uncomfortable sharing sensitive identification for access. “Even the mere perception of a privacy intrusion drives people to less safe corners of the Internet,” he warns.

As discussions around the law intensify, residents and web users are urged to evaluate their online safety. With many concerned about potential data breaches, now is an ideal time to consider protective measures, such as utilizing a VPN. Notably, many VPN services, like NordVPN, are offering significant discounts as part of early Black Friday promotions, making it an opportune moment to enhance online security.

For those worried about compromising their ID confidentiality, NordVPN is currently available for just $2.99 per month, representing a 77% discount on its two-year plan. The service provides access to over 126 countries and allows connections from 10 devices simultaneously, ensuring robust protection against online threats.

As Missouri prepares for this significant shift in online access regulations, the immediate impact on privacy and the landscape of adult content accessibility remains to be seen. Users are encouraged to stay informed and share their thoughts on how these changes will affect their digital habits.

Follow TechRadar for the latest updates and expert insights on this developing story.