Republicans Introduce Bill That Could Ban P*rn In The US: ‘Obscenity Isn’t Protected By The 1st Amendment’

Republicans Introduce Bill That Could Ban P*rn In The US: ‘Obscenity Isn’t Protected By The 1st Amendment’

Republicans are taking aim at explicit online content with a new bill that could redefine what counts as “obscene” and make transmitting it a federal crime.

Senator Mike Lee and Representative Mary Miller introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA), which they say would make it easier to prosecute p*rn distributors across state lines. “Obscenity isn’t protected by the First Amendment,” Lee said. “But hazy and unenforceable legal definitions have allowed extreme pornography to saturate American society and reach countless children.”

The bill removes the current reliance on vague public opinion and uses updated language to define obscenity as content that “appeals to the prurient interest” and includes “actual or simulated sex acts” that “lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”

Miller added,

“The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act equips law enforcement with the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet… I’m proud to lead this effort in the House with Sen. Lee to safeguard American families.”

Share your thoughts below.

Authored by: Aaron Keenan