LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A federal judge in Indiana has issued a preliminary injunction, blocking a law that would require age verification for adult-oriented websites.
Senate Bill 17 would have gone into effect on July 1 and require websites that host explicit content to verify a user’s identity.
For example, a user would be verified by scanning a driver’s license or registering with a third-party verification service.
The Free Speech Coalition, a group of organizations working in the adult industry, sued to block the law saying it violates the First Amendment.
U.S. District Judge Richard Young in his ruling noted the law does not prevent minors from viewing harmful material as there are ways for them to curtail the law.
Young also noted parents can install software to block access to those websites.
In his ruling, he said, “The Act imposes burdens on adults accessing constitutionally protected speech even when the majority of the website contains entirely acceptable, and constitutionally protected material.”
Kentucky announced a similar law also going into effect on July 15.
House Bill 278 blocks PornHub, an adult website that averages more monthly uses than Netflix. The Republican-backed legislation passed through both chambers this year without a single no vote.
PornHub took itself offline rather than comply with the new law and left a message to Kentucky users.
"Do you know that your government wants you to give your driver's license before you can access PORNHUB? As crazy as that sounds, it's true. As of July 10, you'll be required to prove you are 18 years or older such as by uploading your government ID for every adult content website you'd like to access."
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