Supreme Court Considers Texas Law on Adult Website Access for Minors

The Supreme Court is reviewing a Texas law that restricts adult website access to protect minors, raising free speech concerns for adults.

Supreme Court Considers Texas Law on Adult Website Access for Minors
Supreme Court Considers Texas Law on Adult Website Access for Minors

Washington: The Supreme Court is diving into a Texas law that aims to keep kids away from adult content online. This law wants to make sure that anyone accessing these sites proves they’re of age, usually by showing ID.

But here’s the catch: a group called the Free Speech Coalition argues that this law messes with adults’ rights to access the same content. They say it violates the First Amendment, which is all about free speech.

The law is pretty strict, requiring sites to check IDs, and the ACLU is backing the challengers. They point to a past Supreme Court decision that shot down a similar law, saying it was likely unconstitutional.

Now, the justices are looking at whether this Texas law should be closely examined under strict scrutiny. That means they’ll check if the law really serves a strong purpose and if it’s the best way to achieve that goal.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argues that this law is just like rules for adult stores where customers have to show ID. He believes that moving online doesn’t change the need for these checks.

Texas is leaning on a 1968 ruling that lets states keep minors away from harmful material. However, a federal judge had some doubts about the law, saying it doesn’t just limit access for kids.

After the appeals court backed Texas, some adult sites, like Pornhub, blocked access for users in Texas to avoid issues with the law. The Supreme Court didn’t stop the law while the case was being appealed.

The Biden administration weighed in, suggesting the court should send the case back for a better look at the law. They believe it’s possible to have age checks without stepping on free speech rights. They want to clarify that states can take steps to protect kids from harmful content online.

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