NARSOL Files Federal Lawsuit Challenging West Virginia’s Internet ID Requirement
Charleston, WV – March 13, 2026 – The National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws (NARSOL) has filed a federal lawsuit in the Southern District of West Virginia challenging West Virginia’s registry law that requires individuals on the State’s sex offense registry to disclose all internet accounts and online identifiers to law enforcement.
The class action lawsuit, Does et al. v Mitchell, filed on behalf of West Virginia’s 6,679 registrants, argues that the law imposes sweepingly overbroad reporting obligations that chill lawful online speech and undermine the constitutional First Amendment right to anonymous expression on the internet.
The complaint further argues that the statute is unconstitutionally vague because it does not define what constitutes an “internet account,” leaving individuals and law enforcement uncertain about what must be reported and exposing them to criminal penalties.
Under W. Va. Code § 15-12-2(d)(8), registrants must provide information relating to “any internet accounts” they possess, including screen names, usernames, and aliases. Additionally, registrants must report any new, removed, or changed internet accounts in person within ten (10) business days.
Failure to disclose the information can result in a felony conviction carrying a mandatory prison sentence of one to five years for a first offense.
The plaintiffs ask the Court to declare the internet ID requirement unconstitutional and issue an injunction prohibiting enforcement of the law.
The class action suit, represented by three West Virginia registrants, is partially funded by WVRSOL, NARSOL’s West Virginia state affiliate.
NARSOL will provide updates as the case progresses.
The National Association for Rational Sexual Offense Laws is a civil rights organization dedicated to promoting evidence-based policies and constitutional protections for individuals affected by sex offense laws.
Note to media: Court documents and supporting materials available upon request.
I have been arguing for as long as I can remember that the registry prevents absolutely nothing and has never provided anything to the investigation of a sex crime that wasn’t available through routine detective work. I’m glad someone has finally picked up on that argument, even if only on the internet disclosure provision.
This needs to be brought to Texas as well, they have the same requirement for reporting.
I have it understood that States are divested of any and all powers with regards to interstate commerce. When one transmission begins in the home, on a cellphone etc. and travels the airwaves ending at a server somewhere in southern California, that transmission is interstate commerce. That’s federal jurisdiction not state. States passing Internet identifier laws as part of their sor policy aren’t operating within their jurisdiction. That’s only my opinion.