Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that online age verification technologies do not violate First Amendment rights in the context of safeguarding children from pornography. Justice Clarence Thomas articulated that states have a legitimate interest in preventing children's access to adult content and that age verification practices are a reasonable way to enforce this. Despite previous rulings against such measures, the Court noted that the current digital landscape is markedly different from that of the early 2000s, justifying the shift in legal perspective regarding online speech and privacy concerns.
Last week, online age verification violated the First Amendment. This week, it doesn't.
Justice Clarence Thomas' opinion in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton leads to a conclusion: states have a valid interest in keeping kids away from pornography.
Internet age verification only 'incidentally' affects how adults can access protected speech, likening it to showing your ID at a liquor store.
The Supreme Court ruling recognizes a changed internet landscape, asserting that old reasoning against age verification no longer applies.
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