Virginia Governor Signs Bill to Tighten Age Verification for Porn Sites

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill Friday night that requires online porn sites to verify the age of their users by using methods such as government-issued IDs, biometric scans or age verification software. The bill, which will take effect on July 1, aims to protect children from exposure to adult content.

The bill defines “material harmful to minors” as any description or representation of nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse that appeals to the prurient interest of minors, is offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community and is lacking in serious value for minors.

Under the bill, websites that contain more than 33.3% of such material must require users to provide proof of ID before accessing the site. Websites that fail to comply could face civil lawsuits from users who were harmed by the content or from the state attorney general.

Youngkin said the bill was a “common-sense measure” that would protect children from “the dangers of online pornography.” He added that “parents across Virginia have been asking for this legislation for years.”

The bill received bipartisan support from lawmakers and was endorsed by several groups, including the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, the Family Foundation of Virginia and Enough Is Enough.

However, the bill also faced opposition from some civil liberties advocates and adult entertainment industry representatives, who argued that it violated free speech rights and privacy rights of users and website operators. They also raised concerns about the effectiveness and security of age verification technology and the potential for abuse and discrimination.

Virginia is not the first state to pass such a law. Louisiana and Utah have also enacted similar legislation requiring age verification for porn sites. However, both laws have faced legal challenges from the adult industry and civil liberties groups.

Reference:

• Virginia porn age verification bill becomes law | WUSA9.com | May 15, 2023
• Youngkin signs law requiring stringent age verification for porn sites | WTOP | May 13, 2023
• Youngkin signs bill requiring stricter age verification on porn sites | ABC News | May 14, 2023