A federal judge on Monday blocked a Mississippi law that would require users of websites and other digital services to verify their age.The preliminary injunction by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden came the same day the law was set to take effect. A tech industry group sued Mississippi on June 7, arguing the law would unconstitutionally limit access to online speech for minors and adults.Legislators said the law is designed to protect children from sexually explicit material.
Chris Marchese, director of the NetChoice Litigation Center, said in a statement Monday that the Mississippi law should be struck down permanently because 'mandating age and identity verification for digital services will undermine privacy and stifle the free exchange of ideas.''Mississippians have a First Amendment right to access lawful information online free from government censorship,' Marchese said.