Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/16pdf/15-1194_08l1.pdf
Page Number: 16.0

Cite as:  582 U. S. ____ (2017) 

3 

ALITO, J., concurring in judgment 

prevention  of  sexual  exploitation  and  abuse  of  children
constitutes  a  government  objective  of  surpassing  im-
portance.”  Ferber,  supra,  at  757.    “Sex  offenders  are  a 
serious  threat,”  and  “the  victims  of  sexual  assault  are 
most  often  juveniles.”    McKune  v.  Lile,  536  U. S.  24,  32 
(2002)  (plurality  opinion);  see  Connecticut  Dept.  of  Public 
Safety v. Doe, 538 U. S. 1, 4 (2003).  “[T]he . . . interest [of ]
safeguarding  the  physical  and  psychological  well-being  of 
a minor . . . is a compelling one,”  Globe Newspaper Co. v. 
Superior  Court,  County  of  Norfolk,  457  U. S.  596,  607 
(1982),  and  “we  have  sustained  legislation  aimed  at  pro-
tecting  the  physical  and  emotional  well-being  of  youth 
even when the laws have operated in the sensitive area of
constitutionally protected rights,” Ferber, supra, at 757. 

Repeat  sex  offenders  pose  an  especially  grave  risk  to
children.  “When  convicted  sex  offenders  reenter  society,
they are much more likely than any other type of offender 
to  be  rearrested  for  a  new  rape  or  sexual  assault.” 
McKune, supra, at 33 (plurality opinion); see United States 
v.  Kebodeaux,  570  U. S.  ___,  ___–___  (2013)  (slip  op., 
at 8–9).

The  State’s  interest  in  protecting  children  from  recidi-
vist sex offenders plainly applies to internet use.  Several 
factors make the internet a powerful tool for the would-be 
child  abuser.  First,  children  often  use  the  internet  in  a 
way  that  gives  offenders  easy  access  to  their  personal 
information—by, 
communicating  with 
strangers  and  allowing  sites  to  disclose  their  location.1 
Second, the internet provides previously unavailable ways 

for  example, 

—————— 

1 See  Pew  Research  Center,  Teens,  Social  Media,  and  Privacy  5
(May  21,  2013),  http://www.pewinternet.org/files/2013/05/PIP_
TeensSocialMediaandPrivacy_PDF.pdf  (all  internet  materials  as  last 
visited  June  16,  2017);  J.  Wolak,  K.  Mitchell,  &  D.  Finkelhor,  National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Online Victimization of Youth:
Five  Years  Later  7  (2006)  (prepared  by  Univ.  of  N.  H.,  Crimes  Against
Children Research Center), http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV138.pdf.