Supreme Court Upholds Texas Law Requiring Age Checks for Online Pornography
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for online pornography. The ruling, announced on June 27, mandates that commercial websites publishing sexually explicit content must confirm visitors are 18 or older. The decision follows a broader push by multiple states to restrict underage access to such material.
The case drew attention from religious groups, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who had long advocated for stricter controls on adult content. Their stance aligns with a 2023 document, Create in Me a Clean Heart, which warns of pornography’s harms to individuals and children.
The Texas law now requires pornography sites to use reasonable age verification methods. This could include government-issued ID checks or digital age-estimation tools. The Supreme Court’s majority opinion, written by Justice Clarence Thomas, concluded that the law only incidentally restricts adults’ access to protected speech. As a result, it does not trigger the highest level of judicial review, known as strict scrutiny.
Four justices—Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson—dissented. They argued that the law places an unfair burden on adults seeking legal content and should face stricter constitutional tests. Their concerns reflect wider debates about balancing free speech with child protection. The ruling comes as at least 21 other U.S. states have introduced similar age-verification laws. Meanwhile, international debates continue over youth internet access. In late 2024, the Digital Freedom Project challenged an Australian social media ban for under-16s, opposing what it called excessive restrictions on young users. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops had previously pushed for age checks on porn sites. In their amicus brief, they cited the dangers of smartphones making explicit content more accessible to minors. Their 2023 document, Create in Me a Clean Heart, links pornography to mental health issues, addiction, and the exploitation of children.
The Supreme Court’s decision leaves the Texas law in place, reinforcing age checks for online pornography. With over 20 states adopting similar rules, the ruling sets a precedent for broader enforcement. Meanwhile, debates persist over how to protect minors without overly restricting adults’ access to legal content.
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