Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

Age-verification laws in South Dakota, Georgia and Wyoming are set to go into effect tomorrow, July 1. 

The Georgia law creates a private right of action for lawsuits against websites with 33 ⅓ percent material “harmful to minors,” similar to the laws in many other states.

The Wyoming law creates a private right of action for lawsuits against websites. However, the law appears to apply only to “obscene” content or CSAM, meaning content that is already illegal to distribute. However, the potential for lawsuits may still exist. 

The South Dakota law, enforced by the South Dakota Attorney General, allows for civil lawsuits against any website containing any amount of material “harmful to minors,” abandoning the 33 ⅓ percent standard used in other states. 

For detailed information on these and other age-verification laws, refer to FSC’s Frequently Asked Questions About Age Verification.

“Following the Supreme Court ruling in Free Speech Coalition v Paxton on Friday, website operators should be vigilant about the potential risk for litigation in these and other states that have enacted age-verification mandates,” says Alison Boden, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition. “We are working with our legal team to understand the current legal landscape and determine what recourse may exist.”

Free Speech Coalition will host a town hall on Tuesday, July 1, to review the ruling and answer questions for members of the adult industry. Click here to register.