The SCOTUS has sided with the State of Texas. Can Steam be blocked?

[xBCxRangers]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/30/politics/supreme-court-texas-porn-age-verification/index.html

"Texas’ law requires any website that publishes a substantial amount of content that is “harmful to minors” to verify the age of users. The challengers said the law also forces adults to identify themselves before accessing pornography, which the group’s lawyers said violates access to free speech online".

The challengers, have lost.

There were no dissents.

We've had these conversations before, but it has now been verified, States do have Rights as to protect children from sites, in regards to adult content.

We all have our opinions on these matters, but it seems, these matters are, or will hit closer to home before long.

Steam has adult content, the question seems to only be what "substantial" means, or may mean, or how that is construed by states.

Should Steam require ID, like a DL, or State ID what not to access certain game hubs, or it's site itself?

[Boblin the Goblin]

Steam isn't an adult site so it cannot.

[Brian9824]

You didn't read the article again. They didn't side with them, they declined to block it while its being appealed and chose not to get involved. They purposely avoided taking any sides and are letting the lower courts deal with it.

There is a vast difference. They appeal is still happening and the law can be overturned as similar laws have repeatedly been in the past.

Not to mention this has nothing to do with Steam as its not classified as an Adult site hence why its not blocked in Texas even though it has adult content. The law doesn't apply to video games.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Some states already require ID verification for adult sites.

[The Commendatore]

SlowMango eredeti hozzászólása:

Steam isn't an adult site so it cannot.

inb4 the "b-b-but theyre selling adult games. its teh saem thign!1!"

[Mad Scientist]

The hentai games on here do not equate to the targeting of adult pornography and actual such things are already banned from being able to be on Steam, which I believe you're more than aware of since users continually correct you on numerous posts of "politics v gaming" you tend to make as a pattern of targeting steam with unrelated political things that do not even remotely apply to steam.

If they targeted hentai games, then Steam would likely do what they do for the eu and just remove it from view for people in the area and call it day.

[Aachen]

Not quite solid on the distinction between blocking a law while the legal process progresses and ruling on the underlying appeal, xBCxRangers?

[The nameless Gamer]

Steam can just block adult games for Texas like they did for Germany and be done with it.

[xBCxRangers]

The nameless Commander eredeti hozzászólása:

Steam can just block adult games for Texas like they did for Germany and be done with it.

Right, i personally think that's where all this may go. Though idk how easy it is to implement by state, say as compared to a country.

[Crazy Tiger]

Would be nice if people actually read the things they post about before making a topic.

[Brian9824]

xBCxRangers eredeti hozzászólása:

The nameless Commander eredeti hozzászólása:

Steam can just block adult games for Texas like they did for Germany and be done with it.

Right, i personally think that's where all this may go.

You should try reading the law they are trying to pass, it doesn't apply to Steam. Hence why the Texas government sued porn sites, not steam.

Its amazing what you can learn when you are actually familiar with the laws you are using as an example.

Crazy Tiger eredeti hozzászólása:

Would be nice if people actually read the things they post about before making a topic.

That would mean that users actually want a real discussion and not to make clickbait titles to push their agenda's.

[Boblin the Goblin]

Even if the law wasn't appealed, Steam would not qualify. Here[capitol.texas.gov] are the parameters laid out in the bill for a website to fall under the bill for age verification;

HB 1181 eredeti hozzászólása:

A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes
or distributes material on an Internet website, including a social
media platform, more than one-third of which is sexual material
harmful to minors, shall use reasonable age verification methods as
described by Section 129B.003 to verify that an individual
attempting to access the material is 18 years of age or older.

Before Steam would even be considered, they would have to have at least 1/3 of the games on here be straight pornographic. That would be close to 30,000 games.

[Crazy Tiger]

brian9824 eredeti hozzászólása:

Crazy Tiger eredeti hozzászólása:

Would be nice if people actually read the things they post about before making a topic.

That would mean that users actually want a real discussion and not to make clickbait titles to push their agenda's.

True, the thread about Win 10 showed that quite clearly.

[Boblin the Goblin]

The nameless Commander eredeti hozzászólása:

Steam can just block adult games for Texas like they did for Germany and be done with it.

Germany is a whole region, a state within a region is a bit different.

[Brian9824]

SlowMango eredeti hozzászólása:

Even if the law wasn't appealed, Steam would not qualify. Here[capitol.texas.gov] are the parameters laid out in the bill for a website to fall under the bill for age verification;

HB 1181 eredeti hozzászólása:

A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes
or distributes material on an Internet website, including a social
media platform, more than one-third of which is sexual material
harmful to minors, shall use reasonable age verification methods as
described by Section 129B.003 to verify that an individual
attempting to access the material is 18 years of age or older.

Before Steam would even be considered, they would have to have at least 1/3 of the games on here be straight pornographic. That would be close to 30,000 games.

GASP, you mean people are making claims about laws they havent read while making false claims about articles they haven't read? That can't be true... No one would be that irresponsible to post blatantly false information right?

[xBCxRangers]

SlowMango eredeti hozzászólása:

Even if the law wasn't appealed, Steam would not qualify. Here[capitol.texas.gov] are the parameters laid out in the bill for a website to fall under the bill for age verification;

HB 1181 eredeti hozzászólása:

A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes
or distributes material on an Internet website, including a social
media platform, more than one-third of which is sexual material
harmful to minors, shall use reasonable age verification methods as
described by Section 129B.003 to verify that an individual
attempting to access the material is 18 years of age or older.

Before Steam would even be considered, they would have to have at least 1/3 of the games on here be straight pornographic. That would be close to 30,000 games.

Well, that's a point, but def up to interpretation, of what even construes such material, and what state or states. now, and in the future may deem it to be.

Are someone, even AI "naked" considered to be construed as such material, or those in a game having relations of such a nature construed as such? If so, i would think more than one third of Steams games do meet that criteria.

It's all up to ones interpretation.

The SC has given states the green light, to prohibit or otherwise provide age of verification for such matters.