Indiana Court Stay on Porn Age Verification Law

A federal appeals court has granted a stay on an Indiana law requiring age verification for pornography websites, allowing it to take effect despite earlier concerns about its constitutionality. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit deemed Indiana's Senate Bill 17 'functionally identical' to a Texas law already in effect, leading to its enforcement pending a Supreme Court decision on the Texas case. Critics, including a judge who initially blocked the law, argue it may violate First Amendment rights, while supporters claim it is necessary for protecting minors from harmful content. Meanwhile, South Dakota's Attorney General Marty Jackley is advocating for similar age verification measures aimed at safeguarding children from harmful internet content and the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. Jackley emphasized the need for narrowly tailored legislation that upholds both child safety and adult rights, while also supporting federal proposals to combat child exploitation online. The push for such regulations reflects a growing concern among state leaders regarding children's access to explicit material and the role of AI in potentially harmful content.