Republicans Push Controversial Online Porn Age Verification Bill, Sparking Privacy Fears

A Republican-backed proposal in Arizona has advanced that would require individuals to verify their age as at least 18 years before accessing online pornography. This initiative moved forward during a committee meeting on Wednesday morning.

The proposed verification process includes either submitting a government-issued ID to website operators or utilizing an age-verification system based on private transactional data. Sponsored by freshman Republican lawmaker Nick Kupper of Surprise, House Bill 2112 mirrors similar efforts made by Republicans in past years, which failed primarily due to constitutional concerns.

Kupper cited Texas’ legislation as a pivotal inspiration for his bill, which shares traits with actions taken in states like Louisiana and Texas. However, the bill has met resistance from lobbyists in the adult entertainment industry and the American Civil Liberties Union, who argue that its language could mistakenly encompass non-pornographic content and fail to effectively shield children from explicit material.

Mike Stabile, director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition, highlighted that the shift toward compliance may inadvertently push traffic away from lawful sites to less regulated ones, potentially facilitating access to illegal content. Stabile urged for solutions focused on device-level controls, emphasizing that existing laws have not adequately safeguarded younger audiences.

Kupper countered that device-level methods disproportionately place responsibility on parents, asserting his approach serves as a more universal solution. He acknowledged the sophistication of minors but downplayed the likelihood of widespread circumvention of the proposed age verification.

Additional concerns were raised regarding potential censorship. Marilyn Rodriguez, a lobbyist for the ACLU, expressed that the bill could hinder minors’ access to essential health and educational resources related to HIV/AIDS, sex education, and LGBTQ issues, framing it as a form of government overreach.

The legislation originally included a provision for the attorney general to oversee violations, but this was amended, now permitting private citizens to initiate lawsuits against alleged infractions. Although Republicans sought to alleviate privacy concerns by prohibiting the retention or transmission of personal data to government entities, skepticism remains.

This isn’t the first attempt in Arizona to regulate minors’ access to online adult content; a similar law from 2000 aimed at curbing internet access for minors was ultimately deemed unconstitutional. Rep. Lupe Contreras, a Democrat from Cashion, highlighted parental responsibility for children’s online activities, voting against the bill.

The measure passed the judiciary committee with a party-line vote and will now move to the full House of Representatives for further consideration.