Indiana AG Sends Cease and Desist Letters to Adult Sites Over AV

Indiana AG Sends Cease and Desist Letters to Adult Sites Over AV

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sent several cease and desist letters to adult websites Wednesday, accusing them of failing to comply with the state’s age verification law.

The letters were sent on the same day that the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on a legal challenge to Texas’ age verification law. According to an industry source close to the legal proceedings, Rokita sent at least a dozen letters.

XBIZ has obtained a copy of the letter from the principal of one adult site that received it, who asked not to be identified on advice of counsel.

“[O]n December 31, 2024, an investigator employed by the Office of the Indiana Attorney General accessed [redacted] pornographic website in Indiana and discovered that the website lacked any form of age verification to protect minors from accessing the harmful sexual material published on the website,” the letter states.

“The Office of the Indiana Attorney General demands that [redacted] acknowledge this Cease and Desist Notice within 14 days of receipt to confirm that reasonable age verification has been implemented in accordance with Indiana law.”

The letter also outlines some of the potential penalties for noncompliance, including civil penalties of up to $250,000 plus the cost of the investigation and enforcement action.

Adult industry attorney and First Amendment expert Corey D. Silverstein, whose legal firm represents several clients who received the letter, warned that compliance with the letter’s demand was no guarantee of avoiding future litigation.

“This is a serious development, and recipients of the letter should seek immediate legal counsel, because even if the recipient starts complying with the law today, they could still be on the hook for the previous violations,” he said. “It is very brazen of the Indiana attorney general to take this approach, given that Indiana’s age verification law is currently being challenged by the Free Speech Coalition and already has gone up to the circuit court of appeals.”

A U.S. district court judge has paused FSC's lawsuit over Indiana’s age verification law, pending the Supreme Court's ruling in the FSC-led challenge to Texas’ law.

Silverstein opined that Rokita may have deliberately picked yesterday to send the letters — while the U.S. Supreme Court was in session hearing arguments on the Texas case — to “intimidate website operators and cause angst.”

“I find it quite unprofessional and almost childlike behavior on the attorney general's part,” he said.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Choice Talent Management Launches Fan Platform 'ChoiceFilmz'

Choice Talent Management CEO Chris Crisco has launched a new fan platform called ChoiceFilmz.

Dredd to Launch Official Site

Dredd has announced his new website OfficialDreddXXX.com, launching April 20.

New Pleasure Product Review Site 'ToyChats' Launches

ToyChats.com, a pleasure product review and discussion site, has officially launched.

AEBN Reveals Jade Venus as Top Trans Star for Q1 of 2025

AEBN has named its top trans stars for the first quarter of 2025, with Jade Venus landing atop the leaderboard.

SexLikeReal Debuts 'AI Passthrough' Feature

SexLikeReal has introduced an AI Passthrough for video editing during VR livestreaming.

Cherry Kiss, Jordan Starr Top AEBN for Q1 of 2025

AEBN has announced its top-selling stars for the first quarter of 2025, with Cherry Kiss landing atop the leaderboard for straight theaters and Jordan Starr heading up the gay rankings.

Sportsheets Joins FSC as Gold Member

Sportsheets has joined Free Speech Coalition (FSC) as a Gold-level member.

Age Verification Watch: Two End Runs, Two Failed Bills

Industry stakeholders and free speech advocates have anxiously been awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, which could significantly impact state age verification laws around the country. In the meantime, state legislatures continue to weigh and pass AV bills, AV tech providers continue to tout their services, and legal challenges continue to play out in the courts — with some cases on hold pending the SCOTUS ruling in Paxton.

FSC Helps Defeat Colorado AV Bill

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has announced that, with its help, Colorado's recently introduced age verification bill has been defeated.

New AI Companion Platform 'Fantasy.AI' Launches

Fantasy.AI, a new AI companion platform, has officially launched.

Show More