Tunisia's High Court Throws Out Online Porn Ban

TUNIS, Tunisia —  In a surprise move, Tunisia's highest court has thrown out a complaint calling for a ban on porn websites in the country.

A judicial source said, "The court quashed the first instance and appeals ruling that ordered the censorship of pornographic websites," but the case will be appealed.

The case came before the court just last week after three lawyers claimed that porn is “against Muslim values” and dangerous for the young.

It’s not clear as why the ruling was handed down, but the decision was unexpected considering that online porn censorship has already been ordered twice before when the courts ordered the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) to block adult sites.

Critics of the ban have been concerned that if adopted, the measure would boomerang the country back to the pre-revolution censorship days under the ousted regime of Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

"This is rather good news," said Reporters Without Boorders’ Olivia Gre.

Rights groups and the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI) have also spoken out against the ban.

"It's a step backwards," said ATI's chief executive Moez ChakChouk. "Under Ben Ali, the ATI was an instrument of political control and censorship. Today we are fighting for the neutrality of the Internet, but they want to put the old cloak back on us."

ChakChouk also maintained that filtering would hurt the quality and speed of data transfers, and that the ATI does not have the funds to effectively censor online activity.

But one of the plaintiffs, lawyer Monaem Turki, who has been a vocal critic about how porn is damaging Tunisian society said, "I respect the court's decision but I think the judiciary has shirked the issue. We will use the same arguments to win this case in the appeals court.”

Related:  

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Justices Alito, Thomas Invoke Victorian-Era Morality Law, Raising Censorship Concerns

Several national publications reported this week on widespread concern among Free Speech advocates after U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas repeatedly invoked during a hearing the infamous segregation-era law the Comstock Act, which was the cornerstone of U.S. censorship of sexual material from the 1870s until the 1970s.

Skinfluential Management's FansFuel Acquires Fanwire

FansFuel has acquired creator account management tool Fanwire.

Nebraska AV Bill Moves Forward Despite Privacy, Free Speech Concerns

Nebraska’s unicameral Legislature has given first-round approval to LB 1092, the state’s version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists.

AEBN Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The Adult Entertainment Broadcast Network (AEBN) is celebrating its 25th year in business this week.

Performers in Meta Blacklisting Lawsuit Seek to Preserve Antitrust Claims

Adult Performance Artists Guild board officers Alana Evans, Kelly Pierce and Ruby have informed a California court that, although they want to drop their lawsuit claiming that Meta conspired with OnlyFans to blacklist rival premium fan platforms’ talent, they may still pursue antitrust claims in the future.

FSC, Co-Plaintiffs to Ask US Supreme Court to Review Constitutionality of Texas Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and its co-plaintiffs in the challenge to Texas’ controversial age verification law have petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit to stay its recent decision upholding the law, because they intend to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review the law’s constitutionality.

FSC Vows to Fight Florida Age Verification Law

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has issued a statement vowing to continue fighting Florida’s new age verification law, which was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday as part of a comprehensive bill targeting minors’ use of social media.

Kansas Republican Aims to Create New Bureaucracy to 'Investigate' Porn Websites

Republican state legislators succeeded Monday in moving forward Kansas’ version of the age verification bills being sponsored around the country by anti-porn religious conservative activists, despite serious concerns raised by House Democrats about the cost of establishing a new bureaucracy tasked with investigating websites for pornographic content.

SK Intertainment Launches 'Skinfluential Management' Agency, FansFuel Joint Venture

Mr. Skin/Mr. Man parent company SK Intertainment has launched new creator agency Skinfluential Management, as well as a new joint venture with Showbizz Media's creator stats and affiliate marketing platform, FansFuel.

Industry Attorney, Free Speech Champion Clyde DeWitt Passes Away at 75

Noted industry attorney Clyde DeWitt passed away on Friday in Las Vegas at 75, according to friends and colleagues.

Show More