Antonio Hernández
The Supreme Court declined to block a provision of Texas law aimed at preventing minors from accessing pornographic content online, rejecting arguments based on free speech grounds.
The decision came after the Free Speech Coalition, a trade group representing the pornography industry, along with several companies, sought to challenge the law’s constitutionality under the First Amendment.
The law, known as H.B. 1181, requires online platforms to verify users’ ages by collecting personal information, a measure aimed at limiting children’s access to sexually explicit content.
However, the challenge argued that these requirements also burden adults by mandating intrusive age verification measures.
In response, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton defended the law, stating it simply requires the pornography industry to take reasonable steps to ensure that those accessing the material are adults.
Previously, a federal judge ruled against the provision, citing its broader impact beyond restricting access to minors. However, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the state, leading to the Supreme Court’s decision.
Following the appeals court’s ruling, several online pornography platforms, including Pornhub, blocked access for users in Texas due to concerns about the provision’s implementation.
