TOPEKA, Kansas — Four unprecedented lawsuits were filed in Kansas on Monday, aiming to hold adult websites accountable for failing to comply with state regulations that require effective age-verification systems. Currently, there are no federal mandates in place that necessitate such verification for pornography sites.
The lawsuits, initiated by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) alongside a local law firm, represent a groundbreaking effort to seek legal remedies under state age-verification laws on behalf of a minor and their parent. This legal action marks the first instance in which a minor is taking advantage of state legislation concerning access to pornographic content, according to NCOSE officials.
Kansas is one of approximately 20 states that have enacted laws to verify users’ ages on adult websites, with Louisiana being the first state to implement such legislation this year.
Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach emphasized the novelty of these lawsuits, noting the law permits individuals and organizations to file suits against sites that do not comply. His office previously filed its own age-verification lawsuit against an adult website in January, which remains ongoing. “The combination of my office’s initial suit and this private action illustrates the law is functioning as intended,” Kobach stated.
The lawsuits came as a response to a situation in which a parent took several precautions to prevent her 14-year-old child from accessing adult content, only to find that the child managed to view such material on an old laptop. The algorithms and content recommendations from these sites, as alleged in the complaints, contributed to the child’s exposure to pornography.
NCOSE argues that exposure to pornographic material can have detrimental effects on minors, disrupting their sexual development and potentially leading to increased instances of sexual violence and other health issues.
NCOSE’s General Counsel Benjamin Bull expressed concern that, despite parental efforts, children can easily find ways to access inappropriate content. “Parents thought they were taking the right steps, but it’s often not enough. The key question is not if kids will access this material, but when,” he explained.
The lawsuits claim that at least one of the defendants, Chaturbate, does have an age-verification system, but it is easily bypassed, failing to meet Kansas’ legal requirements. Multi Media LLC, the parent company of Chaturbate, has defended its practices, asserting that the site adheres to state regulations and labeling the lawsuit as “completely baseless.”
A spokesperson for Multi Media LLC stated, “The platform’s ID verification mechanism has operated as designed, and the individual was never able to access explicit content without proper verification.” They noted that an age gate is displayed to Kansas users who have not been previously verified.
In contrast, Attorney General Kobach lauded the lawsuits as validation of the state’s commitment to protect minors. He reiterated that the legal measures are effective in holding companies accountable for making adult content accessible to children, especially given the availability of technology to prevent such access.
The plaintiffs, a mother and her son, along with another family member, are pursuing damages of at least $50,000 for each violation across the four lawsuits. They are also seeking additional compensatory damages and attorney fees, along with any further relief deemed appropriate by the court.
This coordinated legal initiative underscores growing concerns over child exposure to pornography and emphasizes the responsibilities of online platforms to enforce age restrictions effectively.
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