The Indiana Senate has recently passed a bill aimed at regulating online adult content by enforcing age verification measures. The bill, authored by Senator Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores), is designed to protect minors from accessing explicit materials online by mandating adult-oriented websites to verify a user’s age before granting access. This could be implemented through methods such as scanning a driver’s license or utilizing a third-party verification service.
The bill has sparked a range of responses from lawmakers. Senator Mike Young (R-Indianapolis) highlighted the existing age restrictions on other forms of explicit content, such as mature-rated movies and adult magazines, calling the current lack of regulation on online pornography a “big loophole”. Meanwhile, Senator Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) emphasized the role of parents in protecting their children from harmful content but supported the bill by arguing that just as with alcohol, there should be a system to verify age before consumption of adult content.