LOS ANGELES—Cherie DeVille was spotlighted in an ABC News report on the battle over online age-verification laws, as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on measures that could change how Americans access adult content.
The segment, "Porn Industry, Parent Groups Clash Over Online Age-Verification Laws," shared DeVille’s stance on the issue featuring her perspective on the unintended consequences of such legislation.
"This isn’t a whim or something that I’m going to do for a week. I love this job. It’s very good business for me," DeVille told ABC News from the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas this January, pushing back against growing efforts to impose digital ID checks on adult websites.
As 19 states enact laws requiring users to upload government-issued IDs or complete biometric scans before viewing adult content, DeVille warns that these restrictions not only threaten the livelihoods of legal performers and platforms but also create a dangerous vacuum where unregulated and exploitative content flourishes.
DeVille added, "It’s going to be a massive amount of monetary loss and I think you’re going to see an explosion of illegal, unethical porn because they don’t care and they won’t comply. I do not care what you think about porn. This should terrify you because this is a massive government overstep in one of our most cherished things in the United States."
Following ABC News’ report, DeVille emphasized that while child safety is paramount, the proposed verification systems are deeply flawed. DeVille continued, "If this method of age verification were truly effective, I would support it. But in reality, it’s easy to bypass, and only legal sites will comply—leaving illegal and often dangerous content as the only unrestricted option. Instead, we need a real, device-based solution that protects all children from content not meant for them, not just adult material. If the true goal were child safety, there would be a serious effort to implement real protections such as device-based restrictions. Instead, it’s clear this is just an attempt to eradicate the legal adult industry. Love us or hate us, but make no mistake—legislation like this puts your freedom of speech on the line."
Watch the full report at ABCNews.com and ABC News Video.
The segment is also featured across ABC News’ social platforms X, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
