1. United States
2. Letter

I'm writing today to ask you to rule in favor of strict scrutiny applying to age verification laws. Age verification laws have proven to be less effective in stopping instances of grooming, trafficking, and exploitation of minors. Recently, over 100 people were arrested in North Texas for the crimes listed above. Members of law enforcement involved with the operation advised parents to use parental controls installed on these apps and devices to more effectively prevent the tragic exploitation of children rather than age verification imposed by the state. Again, law enforcement advised against mandatory age verification which was in effect even before the operation to catch these groups soliciting and distributing CSAM because age verification made it harder and far more longer for them to catch them than the parental controls. SESTA and FOSTA have made this sting operation longer than it needed to be. So many children were made victims after it and similar laws passed in the past decade. Striking down age verification would benefit law enforcement officials and branches dedicated to prevent the abuse of minors by streamlining these investigations and freeing them from being overloaded by false reports. Please use strict scrutiny to protect children.