Rule 34 originated from a 2005 US law aimed at protecting children from online exploitation. Section 34 of the law, also known as 18 U.S.C. § 2257, requires adult websites to verify the ages of their users and maintain records of their content.
In 2021, there were efforts to block or restrict access to certain websites, including those related to Rule 34, due to concerns over explicit content and child safety.