Privacy, Porn, and the First Amendment: A Constitutional Crossroads (Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton)

Happy Monday, folks! On today's episode, Pari and I discuss Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a case in which SCOTUS must decide the correct scrutiny test to apply to age verification laws on porn sites. Other questions we touch on...Should governments be able to require that porn websites verify viewers' ages? Do such laws infringe on First Amendment protections and anonymity? This is a case that will have significant implications for free speech protections regarding sexual/obscene content. We recorded this episode before the Supreme Court heard arguments in this case, so we've linked the January 15th arguments for you below--alongside a host of resources if you're interested in learning more. See you in two weeks! Eva & Pari https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122 https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/23-1122 https://www.scotusblog.com/case-files/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton/ https://ballotpedia.org/Free_Speech_Coalition,_Inc._v._Paxton#:~:text=Ketanji%20Brown%20Jackson-,Free%20Speech%20Coalition%20v.,court's%20October%202024%2D2025%20term.&text=The%20issue%3A%20The%20case%20concerns%20people's%20access%20to%20protected%20speech https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/scotus-attorney-general-ken-paxton-defends-texas-law-requiring-age-verification-measures-pornography#:~:text=Attorney%20General%20Ken%20Paxton%20filed,children%20from%20obscene%20online%20material https://www.aclu.org/cases/free-speech-coalition-inc-v-paxton https://www.freespeechcoalition.com/ https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326045/20240916160337719_Petitioners%20Merits%20Br.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/311950/20240530120355427_23-1122%20Brief%20in%20Opposition.pdf https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-1122/326689/20240923183221800_23-1122tsacUS_Free_Speech_Coal_Final.pdf