Link: Supreme Court opens door to social media age-gating in US

The Supreme Court has allowed Mississippi's social media age verification law to take effect while the court case continues. This follows an emergency petition from NetChoice, a trade group that argues the law infringes on First Amendment rights.

In an unsigned decision, the Supreme Court did not block the law, despite NetChoice's appeal. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in his opinion, pointed out the law's potential unconstitutionality but noted insufficient demonstration of harm by NetChoice.

The law, HB 1126, mandates that social media companies verify users' ages and obtain parental permission for users under 18. It also requires platforms to shield minors from harmful content and limit data collection.

Last year, NetChoice secured an injunction to stop the law, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned it. This has allowed the law to be enforced temporarily.

Despite the current ruling, NetChoice remains optimistic about ultimately protecting free speech rights under the First Amendment. "This is merely an unfortunate procedural delay," said Paul Taske, co-director of the NetChoice Litigation Center.

With growing global legislative interest in age verification to protect minors online, this decision adds to a series of measures concerning online safety and privacy. Although the law is temporarily in effect, it faces continued legal challenges and scrutiny. #

--

Yoooo, this is a quick note on a link that made me go, WTF? Find all past links here.