US Supreme Court Backs Texas Law Requiring ID Checks for Porn Site Access
The US Supreme Court has upheld a Texas law mandating that users verify their age using a government-issued ID or facial recognition before accessing pornographic websites.
The ruling, issued Friday in a 6-3 decision along ideological lines, supports Texas’ 2023 legislation aimed at shielding minors from explicit content.
Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for the majority, said: “The power to require age verification is within a State’s authority to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content.”
The law had been challenged by PornHub and other adult websites, which argued the mandate infringed on adults’ First Amendment rights by creating access barriers. Industry lawyers cited a 2004 Supreme Court ruling that struck down attempts to criminalize online content potentially harmful to minors.
Critics argued that requiring users to submit government IDs or biometric data could deter lawful adult access and raise privacy concerns, exposing users to potential data breaches.
Texas officials defended the law, comparing it to a 1968 decision that upheld restrictions on selling pornography to minors in print form, asserting that the legal principles remain relevant in the digital age.
Over a dozen other states have passed or proposed similar legislation, signaling a growing national trend toward stricter regulation of online adult content.
