Texas Wins Big: Supreme Court Backs Age Check Law for Porn Sites

The Supreme Court has made a significant decision, allowing Texas to require websites with adult content to verify that users are 18 or older. This measure aims to protect children from accessing inappropriate material.

Controversy and Concerns

The law, passed in 2023, mandates that users must present identification to confirm their age. This applies to websites where at least one-third of the content is deemed "sexually suggestive" and "harmful to children." However, the definition of "harmful to children" remains unclear, raising concerns that it could include romance novels and R-rated movies.

Critics argue that the law is too vague and restricts adults' access to legal content. They also express worries about privacy, as companies must not retain ID information but are not prohibited from sharing it. Additionally, the law does not cover search engines and social media, which are major platforms where children encounter adult content.

Legal Challenges and Court Rulings

The Free Speech Coalition and other groups have sued, claiming the law violates the First Amendment. A federal judge initially blocked the law, citing potential unconstitutionality, but an appeals court later overturned this decision. The appeals court applied a straightforward test: if the law has a legitimate purpose, it is acceptable. The challengers argue this test is too lenient and disregards the impact on adults.

Texas maintains that no one has demonstrated harm to their rights, and the Supreme Court agreed, stating that the law only minimally affects adults.