this post was submitted on 10 Oct 2025

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108

Pornhub should make its own VPN (lemmy.world)

submitted 1 day ago by jve@lemmy.world to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world

25 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Call it VPorN

Or PN in the V

Or maybe something more discreet I guess, but that’s no fun.

top 25 comments

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[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 67 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I presume you mean, so users in individual States or other regions that restrict it can access pornhub

No.

A VPN provides a layer of plausible deniability where PornHub can say "we don't know those connections come from [restricted region] so we didn't know we had to bock them/verify IDs". All they see is connections comming from the VPN exit server location, which is very likely in a more forgiving/less restrictive region.

If PornHub owns the VPN as well, they now know the true location of the user as well as what they're accessing and will be scrutinized much further about those connections.

[–] jve@lemmy.world 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

All the more reason for them not to log any of their users activity!

And of course it wouldn’t be owned by pornhub. It would be owned by MindGeek, their parent company.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 14 points 1 day ago

it wouldn’t be owned by pornhub. It would be owned by MindGeek, their parent company.

Which, In Americas current legal/political landscape, is more than enough to link them and insist they have an obligation to prevent users accessing MindGeeks own legally restricted content.

They need a significant separation to cover their own asses. Common corporate ownership doesn't provide that separation.

[–] z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

On a more serious note, tbh, it's only a matter of time before world governments consider making no log vpns illegal. I can only imagine it pisses off law enforcement that when they show up to vacuum up the data, that they basically get a middle finger from these no logging vpn companies.

I'm very much hoping that this never happens, but I see no reason why various law enforcement agencies won't eventually bring this to lawmakers.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Not sure how they could block mine as I rolled my own on a Digital Ocean droplet. Anyone know?

[–] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago

digital ocean can log all your connections

[–] kambusha@sh.itjust.works 33 points 1 day ago

Virtual Privates Network

[–] Invertedouroboros@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Along with what the others have said, legally I think it's just too close to the fire for them.

Porn has always existed in a bit of a legal grey area, that much is true. But with the more modern evangelical assault on it I feel like it's more in the grey area than ever.

It's one thing for them to say "I'm sorry Texas, but the ip says it's coming from California. We can't digitally sluth the locations of every user on our site.". It's another for them to say "We got a porn website that's legal in some states and a VPN that's legal in the rest! Assemble it yourself!".

Is it legal to do that? Sure? Probably? I don't know, I'm not a lawyer. Is it smart? No. I don't think it is. Pornhub scrapes by because they can be seen to be putting in the token effort to comply with the puritanical laws foisted upon them. At present, that's enough for everyone to declare victory and go home happy. If pornhub starts flaunting those laws though, by doing things like for example packageing in a service that bypasses state legal restrictions, lawmakers will get pissy and get even more draconian about shit. Which means pornhub will either have to get more creative or maybe won't survive.

It's eminently stupid, but this is the dance we're all locked in at the moment.

[–] hexagonwin@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 1 day ago

Virtual Porn Network

[–] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Their IP space would be public knowledge. If you're connected to their VPN it would be pretty easy to figure out.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Not like they would have to host it in the same place

[–] Illegalmexicant@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago

If it comes with a Pornhub subscription, I would be for it. "No honey, it's a VPN subscription".

[–] roserose56@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yea, then someone will hack them and steal all the data!

[–] paraphrand@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Why can’t they hack them right now?

[–] roserose56@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

Cause it will have more value when users have PH vpn. You got to hide it and then someone has hack it.

[–] gravitywell@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

They actually did at one point launch VPNHub but its no longer active.

[–] jve@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Why isn’t this getting upvoted more? Lol

I had no idea.

[–] yaroto98@lemmy.world 5 points 1 day ago

Or just buy shares of VPN companies and then pay lawmakers to pass laws banning porn.

Did you know that Elvis's manager sold buttons that said 'I Hate Elvis'. Gotta play both sides.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I would simply offer an existing VPN free membership in Pornhub in the same way, say, AT&T offers you Max.com or Comcast offers you Hulu as part of your data plan.

[–] jve@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

This guy gets it.

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago

I mean, they could include VPN for premium subscriptions I guess. Although at that point you already have a person's credit card information, lol.

[–] kbal@fedia.io 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Sure, who wouldn't entrust all their data security needs to a porn website? They should start an infosec consulting business while they're at it.

[–] lumen@feddit.nl 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

I know this whole post is a joke, but I just wanted to say that when using a VPN, you’re not ”entrusting them with all your data security needs.”

[–] kbal@fedia.io 1 points 1 day ago

No, just one of your data security needs. Thus my suggestion that they should take the opportunity to use their excellent reputation for reliable computer security products to offer more complete infosec service.

[–] ironhydroxide@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Or ViewPeeN