Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Age Verification Bill Into Law

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Signs Age Verification Bill Into Law

ATLANTA — Republican Gov. Brian Kemp this week signed into law a bill that includes provisions requiring age verification for viewing adult content in Georgia, mirroring legislation being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

SB 351 was introduced by Republican Sen. Jason Anavitarte, a member of the Faith and Freedom Coalition, which was founded by veteran religious conservative figurehead Ralph Reed.

As XBIZ reported, the age verification requirement was originally introduced by Republican Rep. Rick Jasperse in February as a separate House Bill, HB 910, and later inserted into SB 351.

The Georgia House passed SB 351 on a 120-45 vote and the Senate approved it 48-7, in spite of warnings by First Amendment Georgia and other civil liberties advocates.

The new law requires social media companies to verify that users are at least 16 years of age or older, unless they receive approval from an individual’s parents to use the service. It also requires websites whose content is considered “harmful to minors” — including pornography — to verify that their users are age 18 or older, if such material comprises over a third of the site’s content.

Kemp’s office announced the signing through a press release highlighting SB 351 as a priority for Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones, who has defined himself in campaign material as “husband, father, believer.”

The media campaign promoting the age verification requirement was spearheaded by Georgia-based lobbying group Frontline Policy Action, led by religious Republican activist Cole Muzio, who launched it in 2017 in partnership with the national Family Policy Alliance. According to its literature, the group primarily “exists to glorify God and equip His people to transform the culture.”

The Catholic Vote news site heralded the signing of SB 351 with a peculiar, overtly censorship-endorsing headline underlining these bills’ real intention: “Georgia joins list of states shutting down porn sites as governor signs age verification law.”

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

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.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Texas Resumes AV Lawsuit Against Aylo Following SCOTUS Decision

A district court judge in Texas has unfrozen the state’s $1.6 million lawsuit against Aylo for allegedly failing to comply with age verification requirements, Bloomberg Law is reporting.

Show More