Washington Requires ID for Porn Sites, Teens Immediately Ask ChatGPT for Workarounds

Washington state is considering a law that would require individuals to verify their age before accessing online pornographic content. The proposed bill, known as the Keep Our Children Safe Act, was introduced by Rep. Mari Leavitt in the state's House of Representatives. If passed, the law would restrict access to online sexual material harmful to minors under 18, with websites required to implement age verification systems, such as digital identification or government-issued ID checks. The state's attorney general could impose civil penalties on non-compliant websites with over one-third of their content deemed harmful to minors. Similar laws have been passed in other states, including Texas, whose age verification law was upheld by the US Supreme Court in September 2023. The proposed bill has raised concerns among groups such as the ACLU and Northwest Progressive Institute, who warn of potential privacy risks and data breaches.