Picture this: the U.S. Supreme Court drops a bombshell, ruling that age verification laws for adult sites are constitutional. The adult industry’s collective jaw hits the floor. Now what? Enter Corey Silverstein, the legal eagle who’s been navigating the murky waters of porn law for years. His latest Legal Impact Webinar, titled “SCOTUS Has Spoken – Where Does Age Verification Go From Here,” is a must-watch for anyone in the game—creators, site operators, or even curious consumers. This isn’t just legalese; it’s a survival guide for the new era of online adult content.
The SCOTUS Ruling Changes Everything
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton on June 27, 2025, upheld Texas’s age verification law, sending shockwaves through the industry. Sites with explicit content now have to verify users are 18 or older, often requiring government ID or transactional data. For an industry built on accessibility, this feels like a sucker punch. Silverstein’s webinar, streamed live on July 10, 2025, and now available free on YouTube, dives into what this means and how to adapt.
Why the Ruling Hurts
Let’s not sugarcoat it: this ruling stings. Requiring users to flash IDs to access adult content isn’t just a logistical nightmare—it’s a privacy minefield. Silverstein, joined by heavyweights like Lawrence Walters and Mike Stabile from the Free Speech Coalition, breaks down the fallout. Traffic to compliant sites like Pornhub has already tanked, with users flocking to shadier, less-regulated platforms. This could mean more exposure to illegal content like child sexual abuse material, which is the opposite of what lawmakers claim they want.
“They can say this is about protecting kids, but I’m not buying what they’re selling,” Silverstein told Mashable.
– Corey Silverstein
The webinar doesn’t just lament the ruling; it’s a call to action. Creators and operators need to rethink their strategies, from compliance to user retention.
What Creators Need to Know
For content creators, the stakes are personal. Many rely on traffic from free tube sites to funnel fans to paid platforms. Age verification could choke that pipeline. Silverstein’s webinar lays out practical steps to navigate this mess:
- Compliance is non-negotiable: Texas’s law applies to sites where a third of the content is “harmful to minors.” Expect other states to follow suit by July 2025.
- Privacy concerns: Handing over IDs risks data leaks. Creators must push for secure verification systems.
- Adapt or lose: Diversify revenue streams—think subscription models or private platforms—to offset traffic drops.
ClaraKitty, the webinar’s moderator, kept the vibe grounded, letting creators and operators fire off real questions. The result? A raw, no-BS discussion that cuts through the legal jargon.
The Bigger Picture: Free Speech vs. Regulation
This isn’t just about porn—it’s about the internet itself. The SCOTUS ruling green-lights broader censorship tools, which could spill over to other types of speech. Silverstein and his guests argue the law fails the First Amendment smell test. Justice Kagan’s dissent nailed it: why wasn’t a less invasive option, like device-level filters, considered? The webinar unpacks how this ruling sidestepped strict scrutiny, a legal standard that demands laws be narrowly tailored to avoid trampling free speech.
Silverstein’s take is blunt: “If they really cared about kids, they’d make this less burdensome.” Instead, the ruling feels like a backdoor to control what adults can see online. With Project 2025 looming—a conservative playbook pushing for outright porn bans—the industry’s on edge.
How to Stay Ahead
Silverstein’s Silverstein Legal and its subscription service Adult.Law are lifelines for those scrambling to comply. The webinar isn’t just a lecture; it’s a roadmap. From understanding new state laws (South Dakota’s kicks in July 1, 2025) to dodging privacy pitfalls, Silverstein’s team offers tools to keep your business afloat. His advice? Get informed, get secure, and get creative.
The adult industry has weathered storms before—think 2257 regulations or payment processor crackdowns. This ruling is a beast, but Silverstein’s webinar shows it’s not unbeatable. Stream it, take notes, and start planning.
The Road Ahead
The SCOTUS decision isn’t the endgame—it’s a pivot point. More states are eyeing similar laws, and federal bills could be next. Silverstein’s webinar is a wake-up call: the adult industry needs to evolve or risk getting sidelined. Whether you’re a performer, a site owner, or just a fan, this ruling changes how you engage with adult content online. Don’t sleep on it—watch the webinar, stay sharp, and brace for what’s coming.
