Today, the Supreme Court delivered its decision in Free Speech Coalition Inc. v. Paxton, affirming a Texas law that mandates age verification on pornography websites to restrict access to minors. This ruling is seen as a significant victory for parents and children seeking protection from explicit online content.
The case focused on a Texas statute requiring pornographic sites to verify users’ ages before granting access to their content. The trade association representing the pornography industry had contested this law in court.
Clare Morell, an EPPC fellow and Director of its Technology and Human Flourishing Project, has been actively involved in supporting such legislation from the outset. She participated in the courtroom proceedings earlier this year and has advocated for states to implement similar age-verification measures.
“Whether it’s renting a car, buying alcohol, or going to an R-rated movie, society is incredibly comfortable with enacting fair age restrictions in order to protect our children. It is very telling that porn companies are so strongly opposed to accepting any measure for ensuring children do not access their content,” said Clare Morell.
The Supreme Court’s decision endorses the constitutionality of these laws and sets a precedent that may encourage other states to pursue similar regulations. Currently, 23 states have enacted comparable legislation. Furthermore, Senator Mike Lee has introduced a national age-verification proposal known as the SCREEN Act.
This ruling is expected to significantly impact ongoing efforts aimed at enhancing online safety for children.