Latest news with #ID-for-Speech
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Supreme Court declines to block age verification law for social media
The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July 17 lifted a hold put on the law by a federal district judge who had ruled that it likely violates the First Amendment. U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden had said the law is too broad, and parents have others way of monitoring their children's use of social media. The Supreme Court didn't explain its decision in the case. But Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that while Mississippi's law is likely unconsitutional, NetChoice didn't show that letting it be enforced during the legal challenge is sufficiently harmful. NetChoice attorney Paul Taske called the court's decision "an unfortunate procedural delay." "Although we're disappointed with the Court's decision, Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence makes clear that NetChoice will ultimately succeed in defending the First Amendment - not just in this case but across all NetChoice's ID-for-Speech lawsuits," Taske said in a statement. A spokesperson for Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch said the state is "grateful for the Court's decision to leave Mississippi's law in effect while the case proceeds in a way that permits thoughtful consideration of these important issues." Mississippi's attorneys say the law is a targeted effort to regulate social media platforms that let predators interact with children. "The Act requires what any responsible covered platform would already do: make 'commercially reasonable' efforts to protect minors," they told the Supreme Court. They said the law was prompted by a 16-year-old boy taking his own life after someone he met on Instagram threatened to expose their sexual encounter unless he paid $1,000. And they said Ozerden's order blocking enforcement conflicts with the Supreme Court's June decision upholding Texas' age verification law for pornographic websites. More: Supreme Court upholds Texas' age verification law for porn sites NetChoice said the law forces every Mississippian - adults and minors alike - to surrender personal information to access online speech that's protected by the First Amendment. "Social media is the modern printing press - it allows all Americans to share their thoughts and perspectives," said Paul Taske, co-director of the Net Choice Litigation Center. "Just as the government can't force you to provide identification to read a newspaper, the same holds true when that news is available online."
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Free speech clash: Supreme Court allows Mississippi's law requiring age verification for minors; tech giants oppose mandate
US Supreme Court (AP image) The US Supreme Court on Thursday declined to temporarily block a Mississippi law that requires age verification and parental consent for minors to use social media platforms. The law, aimed at protecting young people from potential online harm, will remain in effect while legal challenges continue. It is one of several measures passed by US states to curb the influence of social media on children. NetChoice – a group representing companies including Facebook, Instagram , Reddit, X and YouTube had asked the Supreme Court to halt the law after the New Orleans-based 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals allowed its enforcement. A lower court had earlier blocked the law, ruling it likely violated the First Amendment. US District Judge Sul Ozerden said the measure was overly broad and that parents already have other ways to monitor their children's online activity. The Supreme Court did not explain its decision. However, Justice Brett Kavanaugh noted that while the law may be unconstitutional, NetChoice had not proven that enforcing it during the court battle would cause enough harm to justify halting it. NetChoice attorney Paul Taske called the ruling a 'procedural delay' and expressed confidence the group would ultimately prevail in protecting free speech rights. 'Although we're disappointed with the Court's decision, Justice Kavanaugh's concurrence makes clear that NetChoice will ultimately succeed in defending the First Amendment − not just in this case but across all NetChoice's ID-for-Speech lawsuits," Taske said in a statement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it better to shower in the morning or at night? Here's what a microbiologist says CNA Read More Undo Mississippi officials defended the law, saying it targets platforms that allow predators to contact minors. They cited a case in which a 16-year-old boy took his own life after he met someone on Instagram who threatened to expose their sexual encounter unless he paid $1,000. The state also argued that blocking the law conflicted with the Supreme Court's earlier decision to uphold a Texas law requiring age verification for pornographic websites. NetChoice maintains the law infringes on free speech by forcing all user, including adults to provide personal information to access online platforms. "Social media is the modern printing press − it allows all Americans to share their thoughts and perspectives,' Taske said. 'Just as the government can't force you to provide identification to read a newspaper, the same holds true when that news is available online.'
