Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody has asked a federal judge to temporarily halt a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s new age-verification law for adult websites. The move comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments next month on a similar Texas law.
Set to take effect Wednesday, the law requires websites with a significant amount of adult content to verify users’ ages and block access for individuals under 18.
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The Free Speech Coalition and other plaintiffs filed suit on Dec. 16, arguing the law violates the First Amendment and other constitutional protections.
Moody’s motion, filed Tuesday, seeks to stay the lawsuit until the Supreme Court rules on the Texas case, which could address similar First Amendment issues. Arguments in the Texas case are scheduled for Jan. 15, with a decision expected by July.
The age-verification provision is part of a broader bill (HB 3) aimed at protecting minors online, including restrictions on social media accounts for children under 16. The social media component faces its own legal challenges, with enforcement delayed pending a February hearing.
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The law has already drawn national attention, with Pornhub blocking access to Florida users in protest. Plaintiffs argue the law infringes on adults’ rights to access constitutionally protected content, imposes privacy risks, and fails to distinguish between younger children and older minors.
If Moody’s request is granted, the age-verification law could take effect while the Supreme Court deliberates. A ruling in the Texas case could influence the outcome of the Florida lawsuit and set broader legal precedents for online content regulation.
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