Puerto Rico Senate Approves Bill Requiring Age Verification on Pornographic Websites

Proposed measure seeks to block minors from accessing explicit content, strengthen privacy protections and impose penalties on noncompliant websites

Oct 27, 2026

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico is considering stricter regulation of online pornography following Senate approval of House Bill 777 on October 26, 2026. The measure would require covered pornographic websites to verify users’ ages before granting access to sexually explicit material, but it has not yet been enacted.

The bill, which passed the Puerto Rico House of Representatives before reaching the Senate, is intended to prevent minors under 18 from accessing adult content online.

Under the proposed legislation, covered websites could be required to use age-verification methods such as government-issued identification or independent third-party verification systems. The measure also includes privacy safeguards intended to limit the retention and misuse of users’ personal information.

The legislation would apply to websites and applications meeting specified thresholds for sexually explicit content, with certain exclusions for services such as search engines, internet providers and legitimate news or research material.

In addition to age verification, the proposal calls for health-related warnings addressing potential concerns associated with pornography consumption, including addiction, relationships and perceptions of sexuality.

Websites that fail to comply could face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation under the proposed enforcement framework.

The measure has renewed discussion about how governments can protect children online while balancing adult access to legal content, personal privacy and the practical challenges of enforcing age restrictions on internet platforms.

The bill’s legal status remains an important consideration. As of October 27, 2026, the latest available reports indicate that the Senate approved the measure with amendments. Because Senate approval does not by itself enact the bill, additional legislative steps may be required, including consideration of the amendments and final legislative approval. The governor would also need to sign the measure, allow it to become law without a signature under applicable procedures, or otherwise take action required for enactment. Until those steps are confirmed, the measure should be described as a bill approved by the Senate rather than as law in effect.

If enacted, the legislation would place new responsibilities on covered websites and could change how adults in Puerto Rico access online pornography.