PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 6, 2009
Online Age Verification and Child Safety Act - Makes it unlawful for an operator of a pornographic website to display any pornographic material without first verifying that any user is at least 18 years old.
Makes it unlawful for an operator of a website to carry out any financial transaction involving any product or service whose sale or access to persons under a legally specified age is prohibited by federal or state law without first verifying that any user meets the age requirement.
Imposes criminal penalties.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires any Internet payment service provider or business performing financial transactions relating to pornographic material or to age-restricted products or services only process age-verified transactions. Establishes safe harbors.
Requires: (1) violations to be treated as violations of a rule regarding unfair or deceptive acts or practices; and (2) the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce this title.
Prohibits construing this Act as providing a private right of action, including a class action.
Prohibits any financial institution from processing a financial transaction denominated in or otherwise involving an electronic currency not backed by the full faith and credit of a United Nations (UN) member state.
People & committees
Rep. Stupak, Bart [D-MI-1] · D–MI
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.
Referred to House Energy and Commerce
Referred to House Financial Services
Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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