A federal judge in Mississippi has issued an injunction halting a state law that would have mandated age verification for users of websites and digital services.
In Mississippi, a federal judge has temporarily blocked a new law requiring age verification for users of websites and digital services. The law, signed by Governor Tate Reeves and supported by bipartisan legislative approval, aimed to protect minors from accessing explicit online content. However, tech industry group NetChoice argued successfully in court that the law could restrict both minors' and adults' access to online content, leading to the injunction.
Judge Sul Ozerden emphasized that laws affecting free speech must undergo strict scrutiny, regardless of the government's intentions. NetChoice, representing major tech companies like Google and Meta, has challenged similar laws in other states and argued that such measures could compromise privacy and hinder the free flow of ideas online.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch defended the law, citing concerns about online risks such as sex trafficking and child abuse. Despite these arguments, Judge Ozerden remained skeptical, indicating that the law did not merely regulate conduct but also impacted free speech rights under the First Amendment.
