The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and a coalition of adult content platforms have filed a legal challenge against Indiana’s age-verification law, SB17. The law mandates that platforms hosting adult content must require visitors to upload a government ID and scan their faces or use other means to verify their age and identity. The FSC argues that this age verification law violates the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court Southern District of Indiana, seeks to block the implementation of SB17. The FSC, along with its co-plaintiffs, has requested an expedited preliminary injunction to prevent the law from going into effect on July 1, 2024. The plaintiffs contend that the law constitutes state censorship and infringes on the rights of adults to access the internet without undue surveillance and shame.

“We will continue to fight for the rights of adults to access the internet free of shame and surveillance,” said Alison Boden, Executive Director of Free Speech Coalition. “While they may sound reasonable on their face, laws like SB17 have effectively functioned as state censorship. These laws have been a failure on every front, and we must take action to protect both the consumers and producers of expressive works from this harmful government overreach.”

The FSC has a history of challenging similar laws across the United States. They have previously contested age-verification laws in Louisiana, Texas, Utah, and Montana. Additionally, the FSC has filed a petition for a writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court, seeking to address the broader implications of these state-level regulations.

Joining the FSC in this lawsuit are several notable adult content platforms and producers, including Aylo Premium LTD, Aylo Freesites LTD, Webgroup Czech Republic, A.S., NKL Associates, SRO, Sonesta Technologies, S.R.O., Sonesta Media, S.R.O., Paper Street Media, LLC, Neptune Media, LLC, Mediame, SRL, and Midus Holdings, Inc. These entities argue that SB17 not only threatens their business models but also undermines the privacy and rights of their users.

Scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024, SB17 empowers the Indiana attorney general to file civil suits against non-compliant platforms. The law aims to prevent minors from accessing adult content by enforcing stringent age-verification measures. However, opponents argue that the law’s requirements are overly intrusive and could lead to significant privacy concerns and a chilling effect on free speech.

The challenge to SB17 is part of a larger, ongoing battle over internet privacy, free speech, and state regulation of online content. Similar laws have been proposed and enacted in various states, prompting legal challenges that highlight the tension between protecting minors and upholding constitutional rights. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the future of digital content regulation in the United States.

The Free Speech Coalition’s lawsuit against Indiana’s SB17 represents a critical moment in the fight over internet freedom and privacy. As the legal proceedings unfold, the case will likely draw attention to the broader issues of state censorship, digital privacy, and the rights of adults to access lawful content without excessive government intervention.

You can read the full complaint here.

You can follow the Free Speech Coalition on X at @FSCarmy.