Supreme Court Upholds Texas Porn Site Age Law

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, upheld a Texas law requiring pornography websites to verify users’ ages, establishing a major precedent for similar laws in nearly half of U.S. states. The Court applied an 'intermediate scrutiny' standard, granting states greater authority to protect minors from explicit online content. Critics, including the Free Speech Coalition and dissenting Justice Elena Kagan, argue the law burdens adults’ First Amendment rights and raises privacy concerns. Supporters claim age verification technology can protect children without unduly restricting adult access. As a result of the ruling, major adult-content sites such as Pornhub have withdrawn from several states where compliance is difficult. The decision is expected to influence ongoing and future legal challenges to similar laws in other states.