30 days/30: US Supreme Court upholds Texas law requiring ID verification for porn sites

 

US Supreme Court upholds Texas law requiring ID verification for porn sites

Getty Images

The US Supreme Court has upheld a Texas law that requires users accessing pornography sites to verify their age using a government ID or a face scan.

The 2023 law was challenged by PornHub and other sites that argued the requirement violated constitutional rights to free speech by placing a burden on adults who want to access that content.

Texas has defended the law, saying it was created to limit harm to minors. More than a dozen other states have passed similar laws.

Ultimately, the justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines in a decision released on Friday.

"The power to require age verification is within a State's authority to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content," Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the opinion, wrote.

In a two-hour hearing in January, the justices had appeared to agree with Texas that some form of safeguards should be in place to protect minors, but they also expressed concern about trampling on free speech rights.

Lawyers for the pornography websites in the case primarily relied on legal precedent in their arguments. They pointed to a 2004 Supreme Court decision, which ruled against an attempt to criminalise content on the internet that may be harmful to minors.

They also argued that asking users to submit identifying information may inadvertently bar adults from accessing their websites, effectively impeding on their First Amendment rights.

"Adults who submit, for example, a 'government ID' over the Internet to 'affirmatively identify themselves' understand that they are thereby exposing themselves to 'inadvertent disclosures, leaks, or hacks,'" the adult film industry argued in their legal filings.

Critics also expressed concern about whether the law could be used to restrict other kinds of content intended for adults.

Texas lawyers, meanwhile, leaned on another legal precedent: a 1968 Supreme Court decision that upheld a New York law barring the sale of pornographic magazines to those who are underage.

State lawyers argued that the principles of that law have not changed "just because obscenity has moved online".

After the ruling, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton posted on X: "This is a major victory for children, parents, and the ability of states to protect minors from the damaging effects of online pornography.

"Companies have no right to expose children to pornography and must institute reasonable age verification measures," he said.

Alison Boden, executive director of The Free Speech Coalition, the adult-entertainment industry trade association behind the lawsuit, said: "Pornography is once again the canary in the coal mine of free expression.

"The government should not have the right to demand that we sacrifice our privacy and security to use the internet", she said, adding that the law has historically "failed" to protect minors.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpd1xp2l4wno

Vocabulary:

Supreme /suˈpriːm/

Court /kɔːt/ the place where legal trials take place and where crimes, etc. are judged.

porn /pɔːn/ pornography (= magazines, DVDs, websites, etc. that describe or show naked people and sexual acts in order to make people feel sexually excited, especially in a way that many other people find offensive)

upheld, uphold /ʌpˈhəʊld/ uphold something to support something that you think is right and make sure that it continues to exist. Ex: We are determined to uphold the law.

constitutional /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃənl/ connected with the constitution of a country or an organization. 

constitution /ˌkɒnstɪˈtjuːʃn/ the system of laws and basic principles that a state, a country or an organization is governed by. (hien phap)

burden /ˈbɜːdn/ a duty, responsibility, etc. that causes worry, difficulty or hard work.

duty /ˈdjuːti/ something that you feel you have to do because it is your moral or legal responsibility.

justice /ˈdʒʌstɪs/ the fair treatment of people.

ideological /ˌaɪdiəˈlɒdʒɪkl/ based on or connected with an ideology.

ideology /ˌaɪdiˈɒlədʒi/ a set of ideas that an economic or political system is based on.

explicit /ɪkˈsplɪsɪt/ (of a statement or piece of writing) clear and easy to understand, so that you have no doubt what is meant.

minor /ˈmaɪnə(r)/ a person who is under the age at which you legally become an adult and are responsible for your actions.

legally /ˈliːɡəli/ in a way that is connected with the law

trample /ˈtræmpl/ to step heavily on somebody/something so that you damage or harm them/it with your feet. 

precedent   /ˈpresɪdənt/ (president /ˈprezɪdənt/) an official action or decision that has happened in the past and that is seen as an example or a rule to be followed in a similar situation later.

decision /dɪˈsɪʒn/

attempt /əˈtempt/ an act of trying to do something, especially something difficult, often with no success.

impede /ɪmˈpiːd/ impede something to delay or stop the progress of something

criminalize /ˈkrɪmɪnəlaɪz/

amendment /əˈmendmənt/ a small change or improvement that is made to a document or proposed new law; the process of changing a document or proposed new law.

disclosure /dɪsˈkləʊʒə(r)/ the act of making something known or public that was previously secret or private.

leak

argued

filing: the act of putting documents, letters, etc. into a file

lean /liːn/ lean (+ adv./prep.) to bend or move from a straight position to a sloping position.

barring /ˈbɑːrɪŋ/ except for; unless there is/are

obscenity /əbˈsenəti/ obscene language or behaviour

obscene; connected with sex in a way that most people find offensive (/əˈfensɪv/ rude in a way that causes somebody to feel upset or annoyed because it shows a lack of respect)

institute /ˈɪnstɪtjuːt/ an organization that has a particular purpose, especially one that is connected with education or a particular profession; the building used by this organization.

Grammaly:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Chủ ngữ]  [has + PII]  [Tân ngữ]  [Mệnh đề quan hệ bổ nghĩa cho tân ngữ]

The US Supreme Court has upheld a Texas law that requires users accessing pornography to verify their age using a government ID or a face scan. 

accessing - hiện tại phân từ, bổ nghĩa cho users.
using- V-ing, trạng ngữ, cụm trạng ngữ using a government ID or a face scan, cách thực hiện của verify.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Main clause]

The 2023 law was challenged by PornHub and other sites

             └── [Relative clause]

              that argued [that] the requirement violated constitutional rights to free speech

                            └── [By-phrase: cách thức vi phạm]

                                    by placing a burden on adults

                                    └── [Mệnh đề quan hệ bổ nghĩa cho “adults”]

                                            who want to access that content.

The 2023 law was challenged by PornHub and other sites that argued the requirement violated constitutional rights to free speech by placing a burden on adults who want to access that content.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Texas has defended the law, saying it was created to limit harm to minors. More than a dozen other states have passed similar laws.

[Mệ đề chính ] Texas has defended the law: chủ ngữ + động từ chính ở thì hiện tại hoàn thành.

[Mệ đệ phân từ V-ing, bổ sung nghĩa] saying bổ nghĩa cho động từ chính,  saying it was created to limit harm to minors.

S + have/has V3 + tân ngữ:  hiện tại hoàn thành.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ultimately, the justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines in a decision released on Friday.

"The power to require age verification is within a State's authority to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content," Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the opinion, wrote.

Chủ ngữ + động tự + trạng ngữ
to require age verification: bổ nghĩa cho power, quyền yêu cầu xác minh độ tuổi

within a State's authority: trạng ngữ chỉ vị trí/ phạm vị [within] nằm trong

to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content [to prevent] t to V bổ nghĩa cho authority.

---> prevent sb from +V-ing: ngăn ai làm gì

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In a two-hour hearing in January, the justices had appeared to agree with Texas that some form of safeguards should be in place to protect minors, but they also expressed concern about trampling on free speech rights.

[In a two-hour hearing in January] trạng ngữ thời gian

Mệnh đề 1 [the justices had appeared to agree with Texas that some form of safeguards should be in place to protect minors] 

agree with someone+ that: đồng ý với ai

Mệnh đề 2 [ but they also expressed concern about trampling on free speech rights.]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lawyers for the pornography websites in the case primarily relied on legal precedent in their arguments. They pointed to a 2004 Supreme Court decision, which ruled against an attempt to criminalise content on the internet that may be harmful to minors.

primarily [adv] bỏ nghĩa cho V

rely on +N: dựa vào cái gì 

point to +N: chỉ ra/ viện ra cái gì

which/that bổ nghĩa cho danh từ trước đó

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

They also argued that asking users to submit identifying information may inadvertently bar adults from accessing their websites, effectively impeding on their First Amendment rights.

bar sb + from+ Ving: ngăn cản trở ai đó làm gì

also bổ nghĩa cho V [argue] , kết nối i, bổ sung

inadvertenly -- cho [ bar] cách thức xảy ra hành động (vô tình)

effectively cho [impeding] mức độ ảnh hưởng

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Adults who submit, for example, a 'government ID' over the Internet to 'affirmatively identify themselves' understand that they are thereby exposing themselves to 'inadvertent disclosures, leaks, or hacks,'" the adult film industry argued in their legal filings.

Critics also expressed concern about whether the law could be used to restrict other kinds of content intended for adults.

Texas lawyers, meanwhile, leaned on another legal precedent: a 1968 Supreme Court decision that upheld a New York law barring the sale of pornographic magazines to those who are underage.

State lawyers argued that the principles of that law have not changed "just because obscenity has moved online".

After the ruling, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton posted on X: "This is a major victory for children, parents, and the ability of states to protect minors from the damaging effects of online pornography.

"Companies have no right to expose children to pornography and must institute reasonable age verification measures," he said.

Alison Boden, executive director of The Free Speech Coalition, the adult-entertainment industry trade association behind the lawsuit, said: "Pornography is once again the canary in the coal mine of free expression.

"The government should not have the right to demand that we sacrifice our privacy and security to use the internet", she said, adding that the law has historically "failed" to protect minors. 

Translate:

The US Supreme Court has upheld a Texas law that requires users accessing pornography sites to verify their age using a government ID or a face scan.

Tòa án Tối cao Hoa Kỳ đã duy trì luật của Texas yêu cầu người dùng truy cập vào các trang web khiêu dâm phải xác minh độ tuổi bằng ID do chính phủ cấp hoặc quét khuôn mặt.

The 2023 law was challenged by PornHub and other sites that argued the requirement violated constitutional rights to free speech by placing a burden on adults who want to access that content.

Luật năm 2023 đã bị PornHub và các trang web khác phản đối vì cho rằng yêu cầu này vi phạm quyền tự do ngôn luận theo hiến pháp bằng cách tạo gánh nặng cho những người lớn muốn truy cập nội dung đó.

Texas has defended the law, saying it was created to limit harm to minors. More than a dozen other states have passed similar laws.

Texas đã bảo vệ luật này, nói rằng nó được tạo ra để hạn chế gây hại cho trẻ vị thành niên. Hơn một chục tiểu bang khác đã thông qua luật tương tự.

Ultimately, the justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines in a decision released on Friday.

"The power to require age verification is within a State's authority to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit content," Justice Clarence Thomas, who authored the opinion, wrote.

Cuối cùng, các thẩm phán đã bỏ phiếu 6-3 theo đường lối tư tưởng trong một quyết định được công bố vào thứ sáu.

"Quyền yêu cầu xác minh độ tuổi nằm trong thẩm quyền của một Tiểu bang nhằm ngăn chặn trẻ em truy cập vào nội dung khiêu dâm", Thẩm phán Clarence Thomas, người đưa ra ý kiến ​​này, đã viết.

In a two-hour hearing in January, the justices had appeared to agree with Texas that some form of safeguards should be in place to protect minors, but they also expressed concern about trampling on free speech rights.

Trong phiên điều trần kéo dài hai giờ vào tháng 1, các thẩm phán dường như đồng ý với Texas rằng cần có một số hình thức bảo vệ để bảo vệ trẻ vị thành niên, nhưng họ cũng bày tỏ lo ngại về việc vi phạm quyền tự do ngôn luận.

Lawyers for the pornography websites in the case primarily relied on legal precedent in their arguments. They pointed to a 2004 Supreme Court decision, which ruled against an attempt to criminalise content on the internet that may be harmful to minors.

Các luật sư của các trang web khiêu dâm trong vụ kiện này chủ yếu dựa vào tiền lệ pháp lý trong các lập luận của họ. Họ chỉ ra một phán quyết của Tòa án Tối cao năm 2004, phán quyết chống lại nỗ lực hình sự hóa nội dung trên internet có thể gây hại cho trẻ vị thành niên.

They also argued that asking users to submit identifying information may inadvertently bar adults from accessing their websites, effectively impeding on their First Amendment rights.

Họ cũng lập luận rằng việc yêu cầu người dùng cung cấp thông tin nhận dạng có thể vô tình ngăn cản người lớn truy cập vào trang web của họ, trên thực tế là cản trở quyền Tu chính án thứ nhất của họ.

"Adults who submit, for example, a 'government ID' over the Internet to 'affirmatively identify themselves' understand that they are thereby exposing themselves to 'inadvertent disclosures, leaks, or hacks,'" the adult film industry argued in their legal filings.

Ngành công nghiệp phim người lớn lập luận trong hồ sơ pháp lý của họ rằng: "Những người trưởng thành gửi 'giấy tờ tùy thân do chính phủ cấp' qua Internet để 'xác nhận danh tính của mình một cách chắc chắn' hiểu rằng họ đang vô tình để lộ thông tin, rò rỉ hoặc bị tấn công".

Critics also expressed concern about whether the law could be used to restrict other kinds of content intended for adults.

Những người chỉ trích cũng bày tỏ lo ngại về việc liệu luật này có thể được sử dụng để hạn chế các loại nội dung khác dành cho người lớn hay không.

Texas lawyers, meanwhile, leaned on another legal precedent: a 1968 Supreme Court decision that upheld a New York law barring the sale of pornographic magazines to those who are underage.

Trong khi đó, các luật sư Texas dựa vào một tiền lệ pháp lý khác: phán quyết của Tòa án Tối cao năm 1968 ủng hộ luật của New York cấm bán tạp chí khiêu dâm cho người chưa đủ tuổi.

State lawyers argued that the principles of that law have not changed "just because obscenity has moved online".

Luật sư nhà nước lập luận rằng các nguyên tắc của luật đó không thay đổi "chỉ vì nội dung khiêu dâm đã xuất hiện trên mạng".

After the ruling, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton posted on X: "This is a major victory for children, parents, and the ability of states to protect minors from the damaging effects of online pornography.

Sau phán quyết, Tổng chưởng lý Texas Ken Paxton đã đăng trên X: "Đây là một chiến thắng lớn cho trẻ em, cha mẹ và khả năng của các tiểu bang trong việc bảo vệ trẻ vị thành niên khỏi những tác hại của nội dung khiêu dâm trực tuyến.

"Companies have no right to expose children to pornography and must institute reasonable age verification measures," he said.

"Các công ty không có quyền cho trẻ em xem nội dung khiêu dâm và phải áp dụng các biện pháp xác minh độ tuổi hợp lý", ông nói.

Alison Boden, executive director of The Free Speech Coalition, the adult-entertainment industry trade association behind the lawsuit, said: "Pornography is once again the canary in the coal mine of free expression.

Alison Boden, giám đốc điều hành của Liên minh Tự do Ngôn luận, hiệp hội thương mại trong ngành giải trí dành cho người lớn đứng sau vụ kiện, cho biết: "Nội dung khiêu dâm một lần nữa là cảnh báo về quyền tự do ngôn luận.

"The government should not have the right to demand that we sacrifice our privacy and security to use the internet", she said, adding that the law has historically "failed" to protect minors.

"Chính phủ không nên có quyền yêu cầu chúng ta hy sinh quyền riêng tư và bảo mật để sử dụng Internet", bà nói và cho biết thêm rằng luật này từ trước đến nay "không bảo vệ được" trẻ vị thành niên.