Porn Companies Sued for Violating Kansas Age Verification Law
A child accessed hardcore pornography after four porn sites violated Kansas’ age verification law, the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE) alleges in a new lawsuit.
NCOSE and co-counsel sued Chaturbate.com, Jerkmate.com, Superporn.com and Titan Websites this week on behalf of 14-year-old Q.R. In a press release, NCOSE explains that, though his mother had diligently supervised his online activity, Q.R. successfully searched for pornography on an old laptop he found forgotten in a storage closet.
Q.R. and his mother live in Kansas, one of more than twenty states that require pornography companies to verify the ages of their consumers. NCOSE alleges the defendants violated this law by allowing Q.R. to access hardcore pornography on their platforms without checking his age.
Q.R.’s case is precedent-setting; until now, porn companies have never been sued for violating state age verification laws. But Kansas’ statute creates a clear path for parents like Q.R.’s mom to sue companies that negligently allow their children to access adult content.
The porn cites could face stiff financial penalties if the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas finds them guilty, including paying:
- No less than $50,000 per violation of Kansas law.
- Q.R.’s attorney and legal fees.
- Damages to cover the harm Q.R. may experience because of their negligence.
“It is unreasonably dangerous for these pornography websites to provide this product, which they know is harmful to children, that children are drawn to access, and do access, without employing age verification as required by Kansas law,” Dani Pinter, Senior Vice President and Director of NCOSE’s Law Center, wrote in the press release.
“Our plaintiff deserves every measure of justice.”
Pornography consumption among minors correlates with cascading social, relational and mental harms. A 2024 study from the Institute for Family Studies (IFS) connects early pornography exposure to “negative development outcomes” like:
- “A greater acceptance of sexual harassment.
- “Sexual activity at an early age.
- “Acceptance of negative attitudes to women.
- “Unrealistic expectations [of sexual relationships].
- “Skewed attitudes of gender roles.
- “Greater levels of body dissatisfaction.
- “[Acceptance of] rape myths [like allocating] responsibility for sexual assault to a female victim.
- “Sexual aggression.”
Porn companies, meanwhile, work hard to hook minors on explicit content. Children, with their impressionable, easily-addicted brains, make some of the best customers.
Age verification laws help parents triumph over porn companies’ influence. When Louisiana adopted the first one in 2023, state traffic to PornHub reportedly dropped by 80%.
Nearly half of all states (24) have adopted age verification legislation to date, with another 15 considering age verification bills this year. Congress is also considering passing the SCREEN Act, which would institute national age verification requirements.
In 2023, an organization representing porn companies sued Texas over its age verification law. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in that case — Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton — earlier this year. Their imminent decision will determine whether state laws requiring porn companies to verify customer’s ages are constitutional.
The Daily Citizen will continue covering this legal push to help parents keep their kids safe online.
Additional Articles and Resources
Proposed SCREEN Act Could Protect Kids from Porn
UPDATED: Pornography Age Verification Laws — What They Are and Which States have Them
A Mother’s Sensibility at the Supreme Court Regarding Pornography
Pornhub Quits Texas Over Age Verification Law
Kid’s Online Safety Act—What It Is and Why It’s a Big Deal
Counseling Consultation & Referrals
Help For Pornography Addiction
Your Marriage Can Win the Battle Against Pornography
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