DC Court Upholds FOSTA-SESTA, Rejects Free-Speech Challenge

DC Court Upholds FOSTA-SESTA, Rejects Free-Speech Challenge

WASHINGTON — The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia rejected a legal challenge to FOSTA-SESTA presented by First Amendment and free speech advocates, ruling that the U.S. government can continue enforcing the controversial legislation.

The court found on Tuesday that FOSTA-SESTA “is neither overly broad nor unduly vague,” Bloomberg Law reported today.

As XBIZ reported, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, Human Rights Watch, Internet Archive and two webmasters sued the U.S. government to challenge the much-criticized carve-out of Section 230, allegedly passed to "help fight human trafficking." The plaintiffs are represented by Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Walters Law Group.

FOSTA-SESTA was drafted by religiously-motivated Midwestern Republicans and sold to Democratic members of Congress — most famously now-VP Kamala Harris — as "an anti-human trafficking measure." However, since Donald Trump signed it into law in April 2018, FOSTA has had null-to-negative effect in the fight against actual human trafficking in the U.S. In June 2021, confirming what the vast majority of sex workers and advocates had warned about in 2017 and 2018, the FBI told the Government Accountability Office that its “ability to identify and locate sex trafficking victims and perpetrators was significantly decreased following the takedown of Backpage.com.”

FOSTA-SESTA, the court ruled Tuesday, “doesn’t violate the First Amendment because it doesn’t discriminate against speech based on its content or viewpoint,” Bloomberg Law reported. “And the law gives sufficient notice of the type of conduct it prohibits to survive a Fifth Amendment void-for-vagueness challenge.”

In the opinion of Judge Richard J. Leon, FOSTA “is narrowly tailored to encompass only legitimate criminal activity, not a substantial portion of protected speech, and gives adequate notice of what conduct it prohibits.”

“The plaintiffs are aware of the decision,” Walters Law Group’s Larry Walters told XBIZ. “While we are naturally disappointed with the ruling, we are committed to appealing the dismissal and continuing the constitutional challenge to FOSTA-SESTA.”

The case is Woodhull Freedom Found. v. United States, D.D.C., No. 18-cv-1552.

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

Taylor Nicole Launches New Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Creator Taylor Nicole has launched her new official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Adult Networking Platform SpicyGigs.com Launches

SpicyGigs, a new adult industry networking platform, has officially launched.

Pineapple Support to Host 'Cream Pie Challenge' Fundraiser

Pineapple Support is hosting its Cream Pie Challenge through August to raise funds for mental health services for industry performers.

Kyrgyzstan President Signs Measure Outlawing Internet Porn

President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday signed into law legislation outlawing online adult content in the country.

NC Legislature Overrides Veto of Extreme Anti-Adult Industry Bill

The North Carolina state legislature on Tuesday voted to override Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of a bill imposing regulations that industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most creators and content.

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Show More