Opening Arguments PORN LAW: When Your Kink Is Strict Scrutiny but the Court Only Goes Intermediate
8 snips
Jul 22, 2025 Zeve Sanderson, Executive Director of the NYU Center for Social Media & Politics, shares his insights on the recent Supreme Court case regarding age verification laws for adult websites. The discussion dives into how these laws may infringe on First Amendment rights and their implications for free speech. Zeve presents fascinating research on how age verification impacts browsing habits and explores innovative alternatives to current methods. The conversation also touches on the balance between protecting minors and preserving privacy in the digital landscape.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Texas Porn ID Law Restrictions
- The Texas law requires website users to upload ID to access porn, imposing a significant restriction on First Amendment rights.
- This mandates ID verification which raises privacy concerns and legal challenges about its restrictiveness under strict scrutiny.
Intermediate Scrutiny Applied
- The Supreme Court applied intermediate scrutiny instead of strict scrutiny to age verification laws for adult content.
- This lowers the standard for reviewing speech restrictions, potentially weakening First Amendment protections.
Kagan's Dissent on Scrutiny
- Justice Kagan dissented against intermediate scrutiny, stressing the importance of strict scrutiny to protect adults' access to sexually explicit speech.
- She warns that easing restrictions threatens foundational First Amendment rights.