Missouri Age-Verification Regulation Takes Effect November 30

Missouri’s age-verification regulation, 15 CSR 60-18, will go into effect on Sunday, November 30. Sites accessible in Missouri should review the rule and take steps to comply in order to avoid potential enforcement. Information on this and other state age-verification laws can be found in the FSC Age-Verification Toolkit.

Under Missouri regulation, any site with 33 1/3% material harmful to minors is required to age-verify visitors. Approved methods include digital identification, government-issued ID, or a commercially reasonable system that verifies age using public or private transactional data. However, an operator may propose an alternative method if it can show it is equally effective.

Violations of the rule are considered “an unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful practice” under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act. Offenses committed “with the intent to defraud” are classified as a Class E felony. Each access to a non-compliant site counts as a separate violation, capped at $10,000 per day. No private civil suits are authorized.

Businesses that may fall under the regulation should review the full text, be aware of the risks and take precautions to protect themselves from potential liability. For more information about this and other age-verification laws, check out FSC’s Age Verification FAQ.