Latest news with #HB3
Axios
7 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Florida sues porn sites over age verification
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier on Monday sued five companies that own porn sites, accusing them of "flagrantly" ignoring the state's age verification law. Why it matters: He's going after XVideos, the second most popular porn site in the world, eight months after the most popular site, PornHub, blocked Florida users over the same law. The websites mentioned in the lawsuit are and Catch up quick: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 3 last year, which, in part, requires pornographic websites to implement "either anonymous age verification or standard age verification." PornHub blocked access to its site in Florida on New Year's Day in protest of the law, writing that it puts "everybody's privacy at risk." The Free Speech Coalition challenged the law in court, arguing it burdens adults who want to access the websites "without fear of surveillance," but dropped its challenge after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a similar law in Texas. Zoom in: Uthmeier accused the companies of "openly" defying the law even after receiving in April letters from his office threatening legal action for noncompliance. and attract an estimated 34 million visits from Florida a month, according to the lawsuit. The complaint pointed out that has a banner atop its main page that calls age verification a "SCAM" and directs users to a blog post that says "we're witnessing censorship disguised as protection." What they're saying: " As a father of young children, and as Attorney General, this is completely unacceptable," Uthmeier said in a statement, accusing the companies of "preying" on children for financial gain.
Engadget
05-08-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Florida is suing several porn companies over age verification
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has sued multiple pornography platforms on allegations that they fall afoul of age verification laws. The state passed HB 3 in March 2024 and the law took effect in January 2025. HB 3 placed new requirements on services to confirm the ages of their users if they contain "material harmful to minors" and to ensure nobody younger than 18 accesses their content. The lawsuit today targets the companies behind several porn sites, including XVideos, XNXX, BangBros and Girls Gone Wild, as well as adult advertising network Traffic Factory. "We are taking legal action against these online pornographers who are willfully preying on the innocence of children for their financial gain," Uthmeier said. Although today's lawsuit focuses on pornography providers, many of the provisions in HB 3 also center on teen use of social media. In June, a judge temporarily blocked the law after NetChoice and the Computer and Communications Industry Association — groups representing several social media platforms — sought a preliminary injunction. Uthmeier has appealed that injunction to the Eleventh Circuit. Yahoo, the parent company of Engadget, is a member of NetChoice.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House passes HB3, partisan elections secured for Monroe
Elections in Monroe are now required to be partisan following the passage of House Bill 3 by the state house on Tuesday. The controversial bill has been the talk of the town for weeks, since councilmembers first voted to oppose the bill on June 16. PREVIOUS COVERAGE >> Monroe City Council votes to oppose HB3 'I'm actually pretty thrilled about this movement and moving to partisan elections,' Monroe Mayor Robert Burns said. According to the legislation, HB3 will require candidates running for city office in Monroe to file as either Democrat or Republican or get enough signatures to appear on the ballot as an independent. Until now, Monroe's elections have been nonpartisan. The new law will also move Monroe elections to even years, meaning the elections originally scheduled for this year will now take place in 2026. All councilmembers along with the mayor will get an additional year in office. Burns said running with a party provides transparency to voters. 'I don't understand why if they're a Democrat, or any other kind of party, why they wouldn't want the party that they're affiliated with on the ballot with their name. That just doesn't make any sense to me,' Burns told Channel 9's Eli Brand. 'If you're going to be a part of a party put that symbol, the D or the R beside your name.' However, not everyone agrees with the mayor. Monroe resident Steven Segall believes labels don't mean much and said Monroe elections should stay nonpartisan like they have been for decades. 'I can be a conservative Republican, I can be a conservative Democrat,' Segall said. 'Saying I'm a Democrat doesn't tell you how I feel about universal healthcare or work requirements for welfare.' Candidates running for office in Monroe will now be required to file for the 2026 elections by December of this year. Mayor Burns said he still plans to run for re-election in 2026. The Union County Board of Elections said they are working with Monroe to make sure voters know they don't need to come to the polls this November. VIDEO: Gov. Stein vetoes ICE bills
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monroe City Council to discuss new election bill
Monroe city leaders will meet to discuss a new bill that would require partisan elections Monday morning, councilmembers said. This potential change to the city's election process comes after a house bill was amended by North Carolina lawmakers to include the city. Channel 9's Eli Brand said the bill, known as HB3, would require candidates for Monroe to list their political party when running for office, forcing most offices to hold primary elections. It is estimated that new primaries could cost the city $75,000 to run which would be costly for taxpayers if it passes. Council member Julie Thompson wishes the council had been consulted about the potential change. 'Your vote and elections are a sacred thing,' Thompson said. 'We live in a free county, and you should be able to whether you're unaffiliated or a Democrat or Republican, to vote your conscience and have your voice at the ballot box.' The council will hold an emergency meeting at 8 a.m. Check back for updates on this story on Eyewitness News at Noon. VIDEO: 'No Kings': Crowds gather across Charlotte area as part of nationwide day of protest
New York Post
04-06-2025
- General
- New York Post
Florida's social media ban for kids halted by federal judge
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction against Florida's HB 3, a law regarding youth and social media accounts. Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee says in court documents obtained by FOX Business that the law is a violation of the First Amendment's protections on free speech. Walker's ruling on Tuesday sides with trade groups NetChoice and Computer and Communications Industry Association, putting HB 3 on hold until the litigation is resolved. 'Today's ruling is yet another affirmation that the government cannot control or censor online speech. Like all Americans, Floridians have the right to access lawful speech without the government controlling what they say, share or see online,' Chris Marchese, NetChoice Director of Litigation, said in a statement. 'Lawmakers should focus on real, constitutional alternatives that respect both family autonomy and free speech,' he continued. HB 3 requires social media platforms to bar users under the age of 14 and requires users 16 and under to have parental consent before opening an account. Getty Images Jeremy Redfern, a spokesman for Republican Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, whose office is defending the law, said in a statement obtained by Reuters that the 'platforms do not have a constitutional right to addict kids to their products.' Uthmeier's office plans to appeal it to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, he said. HB 3 requires social media platforms to bar users under the age of 14 and requires users under 16 to get parental consent before opening an account. It was supposed to go into effect Jan. 1, but was put on hold due to litigation. 'Today's ruling is yet another affirmation that the government cannot control or censor online speech,' NetChoice's director said. Getty Images NetChoice, which represents social media platforms, has won injunctions in recent months against similar laws in Utah and California that restricted the use of social media platforms by youths. In Tuesday's ruling, Walker said he appreciated that parents are concerned about their children's social media use, but that other, unchallenged provisions of the law offered them recourse. The industry groups did not address some parts of the law that directed social media companies to delete youth accounts at parental request.
