Supreme Court to Review Age Verification Laws

The US Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case regarding Texas's age verification law for adult websites, challenged on constitutional grounds by the adult entertainment industry. Supporters argue the law is necessary to protect minors from explicit content, while critics contend it infringes on privacy rights and free speech, potentially harming the adult industry financially. Over the past two and a half years, 19 states have enacted similar laws, resulting in major adult sites like Pornhub blocking access from those states to avoid costly compliance. The upcoming ruling could significantly impact existing legal precedents related to pornography and censorship. Critics warn that these laws may do little to deter non-compliant foreign websites and could lead to increased usage of VPNs among users seeking to bypass restrictions. Mike Stabile from the Free Speech Coalition emphasized the broader implications for free speech, stating, 'Porn is the canary in the coalmine of free speech.'