Mississippi may require age verification, Supreme Court says
10 days ago
- #Social Media Regulation
- #Supreme Court
- #Child Protection
- The Supreme Court allowed Mississippi to enforce a state law requiring social media companies to verify user age and obtain parental consent for minors.
- The law aims to protect children from online predators, with no dissents from the Court, though Justice Kavanaugh noted it is 'likely unconstitutional.'
- Social media platforms like Facebook, X, and Instagram argued the law infringes on First Amendment rights, but the Court temporarily upheld it.
- Mississippi officials cited cases like a teen's suicide after 'sextortion' as justification for the law, which imposes $10,000 penalties per violation.
- LGBTQ advocacy groups warned the law could restrict safe online spaces for gay and lesbian youth.
- The Supreme Court's decision is temporary, pending lower courts' rulings on the law's constitutionality.
- Earlier, the Court upheld a Texas law requiring age verification for pornographic websites, citing child protection.