Indiana Senator Jim Banks has introduced federal legislation to curb minors’ access to online pornography. The Safety and Age Filtering Enforcement (SAFE) for Kids Act establishes strict age-verification protocols for digital platforms.

Protecting Children from Harmful Content

The bill focuses on commercial entities that profit from explicit material, requiring them to deploy robust age-verification systems. This move is part of a broader effort to shield minors from online pornography, with over 25 states already enacting similar age-verification laws.

Supporters of the bill, including Heritage Action and the American Principles Project, argue that it is essential to protect children from the harmful effects of online pornography. According to data cited by supporters, the average child encounters online pornography for the first time around age 12, with roughly 60 percent of those exposures occurring completely by accident.

The bill grants enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and authorizes federal prosecutors to investigate and penalize platforms that knowingly violate the restrictions. It also empowers parents and legal guardians to file civil lawsuits directly against non-compliant adult entertainment platforms.

Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.