The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments from Texas in January regarding a law requiring pornographic websites to verify the age of their users. The law, known as House Bill 1181, was signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in 2023 to protect minors from accessing obscene materials online. However, a U.S. District Judge struck down the law the day before it was supposed to take effect, citing concerns about free speech rights and privacy.
Since then, several lawsuits have been filed, including by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against major pornography companies that violated the law. In response to the lawsuit, Pornhub disabled access to their sites in Texas, deeming the law ineffective and dangerous.
The Supreme Court refused to block the Texas law in an emergency appeal in April, and has agreed to hear arguments on January 15, 2025. The court will review an appellate ruling that allowed the age verification to go into effect. Amicus briefs from several states, lawmakers, and experts have been filed in support of the Texas law.
The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing will have significant implications for the adult entertainment industry as well as the protection of minors from harmful online content. Stay tuned for updates as the case unfolds.
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