Supreme Court hears arguments on First Amendment challenge to age verification for porn sites
CNNMAR 23 2023
Supreme Court Weighs Texas Online Porn Law
Above: The US Supreme Court on Jan.10, 2025. Image copyright: Mandel NGAN/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
The explosion over the past 20 years of online pornography and access to it through multiple devices has rendered content filtering ineffective. Technological advances may have rendered precedent in this case moot, and age verification requirements may be the most necessary and appropriate way to protect children from harmful content.
Narrative B
While some justices seem ready to ignore the precedent that says a case like this should be decided through strict scrutiny, hopefully precedent will prevail. The right of adults to safeguard their privacy when accessing legal material, according to precedent, should be rigorously upheld, regardless of any lower court's determination.