Florida Bill Would Auto-Filter Porn for All Users, Not Just Minors

Florida Bill Would Auto-Filter Porn for All Users, Not Just Minors

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida lawmakers have introduced legislation to require manufacturers to equip tablets and smartphones with a filter that would prevent all users from accessing material deemed harmful to minors, to be automatically enabled on devices activated in that state.

Similar legislation has been enacted in Utah and is currently pending in Alabama. However, the Utah law and the Alabama bill specify that filters must be automatically enabled only when a device is activated by a minor. By contrast, the Florida bill, as written, would apply to all users regardless of age.

HB 1503 and its identical companion bill, SB 1718, require that the filter must notify users when websites or app downloads are blocked, and give users with a password the opportunity to unblock a filtered application or website. It does not require that users with passwords be given an opportunity to disable the filter entirely — though it does prohibit users without passwords from doing so.

The bill appears to equate “a user with a password” with an adult supervising a minor’s device use, though this is never specified.

Free speech advocates have argued that age verification laws such as Florida’s HB 3 are unconstitutional because they stifle adults’ access to legal adult content in the name of preventing minors from viewing it.

Industry attorney and First Amendment expert Lawrence Walters, of Florida-based Walters Law Group, told XBIZ that requiring activation of a device filter by default for all users is "clearly not the least restrictive means of addressing any compelling state interest in protecting minors."

"As other states have done, Florida could have only required the filter when the device is activated by a minor," said Walters. "This requirement renders the bill vulnerable to a constitutional challenge under the First Amendment, if passed into law. Under the applicable strict scrutiny test, the state must use the least restrictive alternative when imposing burdens on adults accessing protected speech."

HB 1503 was introduced by Republican state Rep. Michelle Salzman, and will next be heard in the House Commerce Committee’s Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee.

SB 1718 was introduced by Republican state Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, and has been referred to multiple committees, including the Criminal Justice Committee.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

TeamSkeet, MYLF Launch New Website 'Pervz'

Sister studios TeamSkeet and MYLF have launched a new website, Pervz.com.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for January, February

AEBN has announced the top search terms for January and February from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Porn Fidelity Signs Exclusive Partnership Deal With NMG Management

Adult studio Porn Fidelity has signed an exclusive partnership deal with brand management firm NMG Management.

Nigeria to Ban All Porn Websites, Penalize Non-Compliant ISPs

Nigeria's House of Representatives on Tuesday directed its telecom regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), to immediately block all porn websites across the country and to enforce that ban.

FSC Launches Action Modal for Adult Sites to Fight AV Laws

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has launched its new action modal web script for adult websites to help combat state age verification legislation.

SkyPrivate Announces New Communications Options

SkyPrivate has announced new communications options as alternatives to Skype, which Microsoft is retiring in May.

Cruel Reell Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Cruel Reell has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

TEAs Show Hosts Defiant Celebration as Community Unites Amid Uncertainty

There was celebration in the air at the 2025 Trans Erotica Awards on Sunday night, but beneath the evening's festivities ran a strong undercurrent of defiance.

2025 TEAs Winners Announced

Winners of the 2025 Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs) were revealed Sunday night during an invitation-only event at Avalon nightclub in Hollywood.

NYU Study Finds Age Verification Laws Don't Work

A group of university researchers has published a study whose findings suggest that age verification laws are ineffective at achieving their stated goal of preventing minors from accessing adult content.

Show More