I asked ChatGPT about the decision and statute…

Yes — your understanding is correct. On June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Texas House Bill 1181 in a 6–3 decision (majority opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas), finding that requiring age verification for websites with over one-third sexually explicit content is constitutional. The Court held that this requirement places only an incidental burden on adults’ First Amendment rights, and thus passes intermediate scrutiny since it serves the compelling interest of protecting minors .

The majority emphasized that states retain the power to require proof of age before distributing content that is “obscene to minors,” and that adults do not have a right to avoid such age verification . The decision explicitly noted that technologies and increased access since the 1990s differentiate this case from earlier precedents .

Meanwhile, the three dissenting justices — Kagan, Sotomayor, and Jackson — argued that the law imposes content‑based restrictions on adults, and that it should be weighed under strict scrutiny comparable to cases involving access to protected speech. They expressed concern over both the free speech burden and possible privacy implications arising from required user identification .

Notably, the ruling paves the way for similar laws in at least 21 other states, giving them a green light to continue or enact age-verification measures for online adult content . Already, sites like Pornhub have responded by shutting down access in Texas rather than comply .

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🔍 What this means • Age verification laws are constitutional: The Court affirmed that requiring visitors to verify they are 18+ is permissible under the First Amendment, so long as it’s reasonably tailored to protect minors. • Precedent shift: Earlier rulings like Reno v. ACLU (1997) and Ashcroft v. ACLU (2004) don’t block these modern requirements, as the Court emphasized changes in technology since then (). • Privacy considerations remain: Enforcement could push platforms toward over-collection of data, raising concerns until robust privacy-by-design practices become standardized . • Future ripple effect: The ruling might embolden lawmakers to pursue age verification laws beyond pornography—potentially targeting social media or other platforms—though such extensions would likely face new legal scrutiny .

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Let me know if you’d like a breakdown of the opinion, the legal standards used, implications for specific platforms, or how this fits into broader internet regulation trends.