Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association and co-amici TechNet, Chamber of Progress, Engine, Internet Works, and SIIA have filed an amicus brief at the Supreme Court supporting NetChoice’s challenge to Mississippi’s age verification statute. The brief supports blocking the law from taking effect, pointing out that younger internet users have First Amendment protection to speak and access information.
A lower court judge had blocked the Mississippi law from taking effect while the legal challenge continues. However, an appeals court reversed that decision in a one-sentence order, leading to NetChoice seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to keep the law from going into effect.
The following can be attributed to Stephanie Joyce, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, who is the Director of CCIA’s Litigation Center:
“Laws like this one restrict the ability of both minors and adults to get online while also putting their privacy at risk. Time after time, such restrictions have been found unconstitutional. We amici urge the Supreme Court to consider whether Mississippi’s age-gating law survives close First Amendment scrutiny, and to grant the request to block it from taking effect until a lower court can fully hear the challenge.”
