The First Amendment and State Nanny Registries for "Adult" Businesses

Both Michigan and Utah have enacted laws to establish "child protection registries." In those states, consumers may register to block specific e-mail messages promoting "adult" activities, which include pornography, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and gambling. Utah residents can sign up for the registry by visiting https://www.utahkidsregistry.com/, and Michigan residents can sign up via https://www.protectmichild.com/. In a Utah lawsuit, a group that supports First Amendment rights sought to enjoin the state's law, but failed to acquire a preliminary injunction. Free Speech Coalition v. Shurtleff, Case No. 2:05CV949CW (D. Utah, March 23, 2007). The lawsuit recently was transferred to another judge.