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Supreme Court Poised to Uphold Texas Porn Site Age Verification Law, Impacting Over 20 States

Jan 15, 2025, 08:29 PM

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case challenging a Texas law that requires pornography websites to verify the age of users before granting access. The law, enacted to prevent minors from viewing explicit content online, has been contested by the adult entertainment industry on First Amendment grounds. With over 20 states enacting similar legislation, the Court's decision could set a significant precedent nationwide. During the hearing, several justices expressed concerns about the ease with which minors can access online pornography, while also acknowledging potential burdens on adult users' free speech rights. Justice Samuel Alito questioned whether sites like Pornhub offer content similar to the articles once featured in Playboy magazine, referencing writers like Gore Vidal and William F. Buckley Jr. Justice Elena Kagan noted the technological advancements since the Court's previous rulings on sexual content. The Court appeared inclined to uphold the concept of age verification but may remand the case to lower courts to apply a stricter standard of review.