The Supreme Court supports the Age verification law in Texas

US Supreme Court Support Texas Law, which can have extensive effects on online freedom of expression. The court ruled 6-3 in confirmation Texas Law HB 1181And that requires web sites that host adults to implement age verification.

The Non -profit Freedom of Expression Alliance submitted a petition to the Supreme Court in April 2024 to review the law. (The organization represents the manufacture of adults). Pornhub has out 17 countries due to similar legislation.

Critics all over the political spectrum noted that HB 1181 has the effects of the first amendment and online privacy. EFF Notes There is no way to verify an accurate age and respect the user’s privacy. (Unlike a personal identifier, it requires online verification to keep data.)

HB 1181 requires web sites that contain at least “third” of its content as a “harmful substance for minors” to implement age doors. Age verification applies to all users who visit sites. The mandate applies to the entire website, not only the parts that contain adult content.

Before today’s ruling, the Supreme Court had previously dropped attempts to the online content for the age. In 1997, she refused Renault against the US Civil Liberties Union In the first place due to fears of the first amendment rights. Under American law, adult content is a protected speech.

Judge Elena Kagan summarized the fears of critics in her opposition opinion. (Judges Sotomayor and Jackson join it). “It is a fact from the truth – as well as from the law – that adults and children do not live in tightly sealed boxes. In preventing children from reaching a” obscene speech for children “, states sometimes take measures that impede adults from watching them as well – although adults are protected constitutional.”

Another concern about the ruling is the “slippery slope” worker. Today’s ruling is not only in a bubble – it will also protect other countries of criticism about similar laws. This may also mean that we see laws that continue to pay the envelope and transfer Overton window In authoritarian trends increasing. The far -right agenda project 2025 wants the presidential plan ban Porn completely. He even suggests imprisonment for those who create, distribute and force them to register as sexual criminals.