JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – In a post published late last week, the Free Speech Coalition reminded adult industry stakeholders that the state of Missouri’s age-verification requirement, codified under state law at 15 CSR 60-18, will go into effect this coming Sunday, November 30.
“Sites accessible in Missouri should review the rule and take steps to comply in order to avoid potential enforcement,” the FSC said in the post. “Information on this and other state age-verification laws can be found in the FSC Age-Verification Toolkit.”
As FSC explained in the post, under the new Missouri law, “any site with 33 1/3% material harmful to minors is required to age-verify visitors.”
“Approved methods include digital identification, government-issued ID, or a commercially reasonable system that verifies age using public or private transactional data,” FSC noted. “However, an operator may propose an alternative method if it can show it is equally effective.”
“Violations of the rule are considered ‘an unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful practice’ under the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act,” FSC added in its analysis. “Offenses committed ‘with the intent to defraud’ are classified as a Class E felony. Each access to a non-compliant site counts as a separate violation, capped at $10,000 per day. No private civil suits are authorized.”
FSC said businesses that “may fall under the regulation should review the full text, be aware of the risks and take precautions to protect themselves from potential liability.”
Additional information about the new Missouri law and other state age-verification laws is available through the FSC’s Age Verification FAQ.
Earlier this month, FSC announced an update to its Age-Verification Tookit, including “the final language and analysis of the Missouri age verification regulation taking effect November 30th and inclusion of recently-filed attorney-general actions, regulatory notices, and litigation related to age-verification laws.”
“FSC’s guidance to our members continues to develop as state requirements and enforcement actions evolve,” Alison Boden, FSC Executive Director said at the time. “Staying up to date is vital as companies make decisions about compliance.”
