Texas Judge Strikes Down Law Restricting Minors’ Online Speech

A federal judge has stopped Texas from enforcing its SCOPE Act (HB 18), deciding that the law unfairly limits kids' First Amendment rights by restricting what they can access online.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton supported a law aimed at protecting young people. This law requires companies like Facebook and TikTok to block material that encourages self-harm, eating disorders, drug abuse, bullying, and similar issues. Western Texas District Court Judge Robert Pitman decided the law was confusing and unfairly limited.

Pitman said, "This is all about content," explaining that Texas can't decide which types of protected speech teens can see online. He mentioned a 1975 Supreme Court case (Erznoznik v. Jacksonville) that recognized the right of children to access information.

Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, along with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression and the law company Davis Wright Tremaine, filed a lawsuit on behalf of three minors. They claimed that HB 18 restricted their ability to access and share meaningful conversations.

Attorney Adam Sieff, representing the plaintiffs, said the decision is a big win against government censorship.

Paxton hasn't replied to the decision yet, but the finding creates significant problems for Texas and other states trying to restrict minors' online access in the name of protecting them from harmful content.

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