Six years ago, Congress passed the Child Online Protection Act to shield children from an explosion of sexually explicit material on the Internet.
Some website operators, seeking to attract new customers to pornographic sites, were creating hard-core "teasers" and linking them to common search terms. For example, an Internet search of "toys" turns up a lot more than just Frisbees and hula hoops.Lawmakers sought to hold Internet pornographers responsible for material that might be viewed by minors. But the law has never been enforced. A federal judge imposed an injunction shortly after the measure was signed into law.
Tuesday, the debate arrives at the US Supreme Court where the justices must determine whether the law is an acceptable regulation of adult commercial activities that threaten the well-being of children, or an overly broad effort that muzzles the free-speech rights of adults.
Details here from the Christian Science Monitor.