A Republican lawmaker recently announced that he is introducing a new bill that would require pornography websites to use age verification technology for users.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Robert Latta (R-Ohio), would require all pornographic material websites to utilize a third-party technology in verifying age of their visitors. All visitors to such websites must be verified for age to ensure they are over 18 years old, which is the legal age for viewing such material. The blog article “GOP Lawmaker Introduces Bill Requiring Age Verification Technology for Porn Sites” provides further information on the bill and the potential implications if passed.
This is not the first effort to regulate such websites, as there have been bills in the past as well as industry standards that attempt to regulate pornographic material online. However, Rep. Latta argues that current efforts to regulate the industry have been inadequate, and that his bill could significantly improve the safety of young viewers.
The bill, dubbed “Protecting Children from Adult Content and Exploitation Act of 2020,” has been met with both support and criticism. Some advocates argue that age verification technology is necessary to protect children, while others counter that such technology could have a significant effect on user privacy.
Overall, this recent bill is an important step in regulating the online space and protecting young viewers. As this bill moves forward through the legislative process, only time will tell what the ultimate outcome will be. Until then, we can only hope that the safety of young viewers is taken seriously and that legal measures are taken to ensure their protection.