If you think age verification laws aren’t a big deal, you better think again if you produce adult content.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach has filed a lawsuit against SARJ LLC, the operator of 13 adult websites, accusing the company of violating a state law requiring age verification for access to content deemed harmful to minors. The lawsuit, filed in Shawnee County District Court, marks a significant enforcement action under legislation enacted earlier this year aimed at protecting children from explicit online material.

The law codified as K.S.A. 50-6,146 and effective July 1, 2024, mandates that websites distributing adult content implement age verification technologies to restrict access by minors.

The measure is part of a broader legislative effort to address what state lawmakers have described as the public health risks posed by pornography. The legislation builds on a 2017 Senate resolution declaring pornography a public health hazard, calling for educational and policy changes to mitigate its societal impacts.

Under the law, operators of websites that fail to comply face penalties of up to $10,000 per violation per day.

The lawsuit alleges that SARJ LLC, a Seattle-based technology company, has failed to implement commercially reasonable age verification measures across its platforms, which include:

• metartnetwork.com
• metart.com
• metartx.com
• sexart.com
• vivthomas.com
• thelifeerotic.com
• eroticbeauty.com
• lovehairy.com
• domai.com
• goddessnudes.com
• rylskyart.com
• stunning18.com
• straplez.com

These sites, which collectively provide erotic films, photography, and live streaming, were accessed by investigators from Kansas without any age verification mechanism in place, according to the attorney general’s office.

“Protecting our children against the harmful effects of pornography is a high priority for all Kansans,” said Kobach in a press release. “This law is making a difference. When the Kansas Legislature passes a law, I will enforce it faithfully to the letter of the law. That is what the people of Kansas elected me to do.”

The complaint outlines SARJ LLC’s alleged failure to adhere to state requirements, accusing the company of making explicit content accessible to minors without any safeguards. The attorney general’s office contends that this constitutes an unconscionable act under the Kansas Consumer Protection Act.

The lawsuit seeks significant financial penalties, potentially amounting to millions of dollars if violations are found to have persisted over multiple days across the 13 websites. The case underscores the state’s commitment to enforcing stringent online content regulations and could serve as a precedent for similar actions against non-compliant adult content providers.

The Kansas law aligns with a growing trend among states enacting age verification mandates for online pornography. Nineteen states have passed similar laws in recent years, with many citing concerns over minors’ exposure to explicit material. However, these laws have also sparked debates over free speech, privacy, and the feasibility of age verification technologies.

Critics argue that such laws may infringe on First Amendment protections and create privacy risks by requiring users to submit sensitive personal information to access legal content. Supporters, however, contend that the measures are necessary to shield children from harmful material and ensure responsible content distribution.

SARJ LLC has yet to issue a public response to the lawsuit. If found liable, the company could face substantial financial penalties and be required to implement age verification systems to comply with Kansas law.

Age verification laws are becoming the norm, and that means you either block the states that have these laws in place or risk similar legal issues coming your way.