Supreme Court upholds Texas law on age verification for porn sites
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Supreme Court Upholds Texas Age Verification Law for Adult Sites
Above: The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 27, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Wroblewski/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This ruling threatens the internet's role as a safe, uncensored space. While protecting kids from harmful content is vital, vague laws risk overreach, censoring resources on sexual health and LGBTQ+ people and consent-focused content. History shows "obscenity" is subjective, often targeting marginalized voices. This ruling opens the door to broader censorship.
Republican narrative
This ruling rightly prioritizes protecting children from the rampant accessibility of hardcore pornography online. With smartphones exposing kids to explicit content daily, age-verification laws are a commonsense safeguard, rooted in historical precedent. The First Amendment never protected obscene material, as affirmed by courts since the 1800s. These laws don't censor speech — they shield kids from the poisonous content imposed on them by the porn industry.