Utah's Department of Commerce has agreed not to enforce a new law targeting VPN usage until a federal court rules on a legal challenge to the measure. Utah was the first US state to pass legislation specifically aimed at VPNs, positioned as part of a broader crackdown on adult content and age verification requirements. The pause matters because privacy advocates warn the law could set a precedent forcing websites to either block all VPN users or impose invasive age checks on everyone, regardless of location.

The law, known as SB 73, treats anyone physically in Utah as accessing a website from the state even if they use a VPN, and bars sites hosting significant amounts of adult material from "facilitating or encouraging" VPN use. Signed in March and originally due to take effect in May, it was first delayed after Aylo, the owner of Pornhub, sued in federal court; it was due to take effect again on Thursday before authorities agreed to a further pause. The presiding judge gave no indication of when a ruling might come. Pornhub has already blocked access in 25 US states rather than comply with age verification laws.