The Screen Act, a proposed U.S. law that would introduce nationwide age verification requirements for many adult websites and platforms, has been temporarily delayed after a procedural issue prevented it from advancing in the Senate.
The Senate Commerce Committee voted in favour of the bill along party lines, but it couldn’t move to the full Senate because not enough committee members were physically present for the vote, despite several members voting by proxy. A second vote will now be required before the legislation can progress.
For businesses across the adult industry, the delay means the proposed nationwide age verification requirements will not take effect anytime soon. However, the legislation could return for another committee vote later this year, meaning companies should continue monitoring developments. Although the legislation applies only in the U.S., it could impact retailers, manufacturers and online operators serving the American market.
If ultimately passed, the Screen Act would require age verification on websites where more than one-third of the content is considered sexual material harmful to minors. Businesses that fail to comply could face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation, making it a significant piece of legislation for companies operating in the adult sector.
Unlike earlier versions, the current bill is more narrowly focused on adult websites rather than a broader range of mainstream platforms, bringing it more closely in line with the age verification provisions included in the House-passed Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act.
The Free Speech Coalition (FSC), which has led opposition to the legislation, welcomed the outcome. FSC Director of Public Policy Mike Stabile said: “Not enough members were willing to be in the room to vote on the bill, and the vote itself was along party lines – both of which are positive signs, and indicative of the opposition to the bill that’s been marshalled by FSC and our allies. The bill could potentially be brought back later in the year, of course, but we should count today as a victory.”
He reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to opposing the legislation, stating: “We will continue to advocate for better, more effective solutions that don’t give the government broad censorship powers.”
