A series of federal lawsuits have been initiated in Kansas on behalf of a 14-year-old boy, alleging that several online pornography platforms violated state laws designed to prevent minors from accessing explicit content without age verification.
These legal actions target well-known websites such as jerkmate.com, superporn.com, Titan Websites, and chaturbate.com.
Alleged Violations of Kansas Age Verification Law
The lawsuits, filed by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE), a Washington, D.C.-based conservative anti-pornography group, in collaboration with a Hutchinson law firm, accuse the websites of neglecting to implement necessary age verification measures.
Kansas law mandates that pornography websites must ensure users are at least 18 years old before they can access adult content. This regulation, which went into effect on July 1, 2024, requires online platforms to deploy effective age-gating systems.
The plaintiff, identified as minor Q.R., is a 14-year-old resident of Olathe who allegedly accessed explicit material more than 170 times using his mother’s old laptop between August and October 2024. These lawsuits argue that the failure of these companies to comply with the state law has exposed minors to harmful content.
Key Allegations in the Lawsuits
The lawsuits contend that the adult websites in question did not employ age verification systems, despite the law’s requirements. Dani Pinter, director of NCOSE’s legal division, emphasized that Kansas law mandates that pornography companies use reasonable verification methods to ensure users are not underage. Pinter criticized the defendants for their failure to implement these measures.
Furthermore, the legal complaints assert that the content accessed by Q.R. was detrimental to minors, citing its potential to appeal to a child’s prurient interests in sexual material.
The content was also described as offensive to community standards regarding what is deemed appropriate for minors, and it lacked significant educational, artistic, scientific, or political value for those under the age of 18.
The Role of Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach
Earlier, in January 2024, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach filed a similar lawsuit against SARJ LLC, a Seattle-based company that owns and operates over a dozen adult websites, including jerkmate.com.
Kobach argued that SARJ LLC had failed to implement necessary age-gating technology to protect children from the harmful effects of unrestricted access to adult content.
This case was filed in Shawnee County District Court, highlighting the state’s ongoing efforts to curb underage access to explicit material.
Specific Allegations Against Jerkmate.com
One of the lawsuits specifically targets Jerkmate.com, accusing the platform of showing sexually explicit content on a significant portion of its pages. The lawsuit alleges that approximately 25% of the site’s pages contained material that included nudity, sexual conduct, and sadomasochistic behavior.
Minors accessing the site were reportedly asked to click an “I AGREE” button to confirm they were of legal age, which, according to the plaintiffs, is not a sufficient age verification method.
The lawsuit further alleges that the websites in question targeted Kansas residents by not complying with state law, which mandates that age verification measures be put in place to restrict access to explicit content.
Advocacy and Opposition to Pornography
The National Center on Sexual Exploitation (formerly known as Morality in Media) has long advocated for legislation against pornography and sex trafficking.
The organization has been vocal about its stance against same-sex marriage, decriminalization of sex work, and comprehensive sex education, framing these issues as part of a broader effort to combat what it views as harmful societal influences.
Kansas Governor’s Position
In April 2024, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly allowed the age-verification bill to become law without her signature. While the bill was passed with bipartisan support, Kelly expressed concerns that it could infringe on constitutional rights and might trigger lawsuits against the state.
Despite these reservations, the law took effect, sparking a wave of legal actions such as the ones filed by the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
The ongoing federal lawsuits highlight a significant issue regarding the accessibility of pornography for minors in Kansas. With the state’s new age verification law in place, these legal actions aim to hold adult websites accountable for failing to protect children from harmful content.
As these cases progress, they may set a legal precedent for other states addressing similar concerns about online safety for minors.