Arizona Could Soon Implement Mandatory Age Verification

PHOENIX—Arizona could soon implement an age verification law specifically targeting adult entertainment sites.

House Bill (HB) 2586, which was initially proposed by Republican state Rep. Tim Dunn of Yuma, is a "copycat" measure that requires adult entertainment platforms to utilize so-called "reasonable" age verification measures. 

Mike Stabile, the director of public affairs for the Free Speech Coalition, testified on February 5 to the House Rules Committee that the bill does very little to protect minors from age-restricted materials found on other parts of the internet.

“The vast majority of adult content on the web is not affected by this bill,” Stabile said, via reporting by journalist Stephen Lemmons for the Phoenix New Times. "This bill does very little to protect children, and it has really significant downsides for adults trying to access First Amendment-protected content."

Other organizations opposing the bill include the Arizona chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona. Lobbyist Marilyn Rodriguez, founder of Creosote Partners, represented both organizations at the February 5 hearing.
 
“Multiple Supreme Court cases have held that attempts to block minors' access to sensitive material on the internet that infringes on adults' First Amendment rights violate the Constitution,” Rodriguez told the committee.
 
According to information from the Arizona state legislature, HB 2586 is currently before the state Senate.