Supreme Court Upholds Texas Porn Age-Verification Law Protecting Children

The Supreme Court upheld a Texas law requiring pornographic websites to verify users' ages to prevent minors from accessing sexually explicit content, issuing a 6-3 ruling that underscores states' authority to protect children online. Justice Clarence Thomas authored the majority opinion, applying intermediate scrutiny and emphasizing the law's important state interest in shielding children from harmful material while allowing commercially reasonable age-verification methods. The ruling reverses earlier precedents that struck down similar measures and may pave the way for broader regulations on minors' access to digital content, including social media. The decision highlights concerns about the accessibility of violent and degrading pornography to adolescents in the digital age, with some adult entertainment platforms withdrawing from states enforcing such laws. Critics argued the law imposes burdens on adults' free speech and raises privacy risks, but the Court prioritized children's rights and safety. This ruling signals a potential shift toward increased regulation of minors' online activities, aligning virtual age-verification protocols with real-world standards.