Porn industry group sues over Utah age verification law

An adult entertainment industry group has filed a lawsuit challenging a new Utah law that requires porn websites to implement age verification mechanisms to block minors from accessing sexually explicit materials. The law took effect Wednesday, making Utah the second state to require adult websites to verify the age of those who want to view their pages — either through an independent contractor or digital ID. Lawmakers likened the requirement to those for alcohol or online gambling and argued that stronger protections were needed to shield kids from pornography. The Free Speech Coalition and other plaintiffs argue that the new law unfairly discriminates against certain kinds of speech and intrudes on the privacy of individuals who want to view pornography.