The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments this week in a pivotal case challenging the constitutionality of Texas’ age verification law for accessing online pornography. The decision could have far-reaching implications for free speech, privacy rights, and the regulation of content.

Over the past two and a half years, 19 states, including Texas, Florida, and Louisiana, have passed laws requiring pornography websites to verify users’ ages through government-issued IDs, facial recognition, or other methods.

Advocates say the laws aim to protect minors from explicit content, but critics warn of privacy infringements, potential censorship, and devastating impacts on the adult industry.

The Texas law, which took effect last year, mandates that websites where more than one-third of the content is classified as “sexual material harmful to minors” implement strict age verification systems.

These measures range from uploading state IDs to using AI-based age estimation software. The law also requires websites to display health warnings about pornography’s alleged harms.

Critics argue the laws are excessively broad and could erode free speech protections established in landmark cases like Reno v. ACLU (1997). That case held that the government cannot suppress speech intended for adults in the name of protecting children unless less restrictive alternatives are unavailable.

“Porn is the canary in the coal mine of free speech,” said Mike Stabile, spokesperson for the Free Speech Coalition (FSC), one of the plaintiffs in the case. “These bills are meant to put the adult industry out of practice.”

The rise of age verification laws has been fueled by Project 2025, a conservative policy initiative tied to allies of President-elect Donald Trump. The 900-page policy blueprint advocates for outlawing pornography outright and prosecuting those who produce or distribute it. In a leaked video, Project 2025 co-author Russell Vought described the laws as a strategic way to pressure the adult industry without imposing an outright ban.

“We’d have a national ban on pornography if we could,” Vought said in the video. “We’re doing it from the back door, starting with the kids.”

The laws have already led to significant disruption. Pornhub, one of the world’s largest adult content platforms, has blocked access in 16 states rather than comply with the costly and invasive verification measures. Louisiana, the first state to enact such a law, saw Pornhub’s traffic plummet by 80% after implementing ID checks. Smaller platforms may face even greater financial strain, potentially driving them out of business.

Critics also highlight concerns about privacy. “Uploading a government ID or scanning your face to access legal content sets a dangerous precedent,” said Solomon Friedman, co-owner of Pornhub. “These laws aren’t about protecting kids—they’re about controlling adults.”

In addition, some laws include sweeping definitions of pornography, such as Kansas’ classification that includes depictions of “homosexuality.” This has sparked fears of broader censorship that could target LGBTQ+ content, sexual health resources, and even educational materials.

The case before the Supreme Court centers on whether the Texas law violates the First Amendment by imposing undue restrictions on adults’ access to legal content. A federal district court struck down the law last year, citing Reno v. ACLU, but the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld it, applying a lower standard of scrutiny. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority could use the case to revisit long-standing free speech precedents.

“The Texas law would probably not be constitutional under existing precedent,” said Geoffrey R. Stone, a First Amendment expert at the University of Chicago. “But this court has shown a willingness to change precedent.”

The outcome of this case could shape the future of internet regulation in the U.S., influencing lawsuits against similar laws in other states. If the Supreme Court upholds Texas’ law, it may embolden conservative lawmakers to push for a federal age verification mandate. Such a move would likely face fierce opposition from privacy advocates and digital rights groups.

Meanwhile, users in affected states are increasingly turning to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass restrictions, mirroring tactics used in countries with strict online censorship.

According to Business Insider, Google searches for “VPN” spiked in Florida and South Carolina after their laws went into effect on January 1.

For military veteran Elizabeth Henson, a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Louisiana’s law, the stakes are personal. Henson, who uses adult content to maintain intimacy with her husband during deployments, says the law infringes on her privacy.

“It’s not anybody’s business what’s happening in my bedroom,” Henson said. “These laws take away our right to choose.”

Holly Randall, a prominent adult film producer, warned of broader cultural implications.

“The overturning of Roe v. Wade was a wake-up call,” Randall said. “We can’t assume the protections we fought for will always be there.”

The Supreme Court’s decision, expected later this year, will likely determine the future of age verification laws nationwide.