Some ten years after its passage by Congress, the Children's Online Protection Act was ruled facially unconstitutional by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.  It has been blocked by court order since 1998.  The act intends to "shield" minors from "objectionable" content by requiring website owners to verify the age of their visitors. The court found the legislation to be unconstitutional, and facially violated both the first and fifth amendments.

Among those arguing against COPA included the ACLU, Powell's Bookstore in Portland, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and a number of small-press, and LGBT, publishers.

Third Circuit find Children's Online Protection Act Facially Unconstitutional -- Sentencing Law and Policy

COPA not copacetic -- Bilerico Project

Federal Court Once Again Upholds Ban On Unconstitutional Internet Censorship Law -- ACLU Press Release

Court Opinion -- Third Circuit Court of Appeals