WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court said on Monday it would hear a Justice Department appeal aimed at allowing the federal government to enforce a 1998 law intended to protect minors from Internet pornography.
The justices agreed to review whether a U.S. appeals court properly barred the law's enforcement on constitutional free-speech grounds because it relies on community standards to identify online material harmful to minors.
Returning to an issue that pits free-speech rights against efforts by Congress to protect minors from online pornography, the high court will hear arguments and then issue its decision during its term that begins in October.
The Child Online Protection Act, adopted by Congress and signed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, would require commercial site operators on the World Wide Web to impose electronic proof-of-age systems before allowing Internet users to view material deemed harmful to minors.
