WASHINGTON — A spokesperson for Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) confirmed to XBIZ today that the new version of the SISEA bill he co-sponsored last year will “ensure that the rights of consensual actors” in the adult industry will “continue to be protected.”
“Right now, Senator Merkley and his staff are in listening mode,” Deputy Communications Director Martina McLennan told XBIZ in response to questions about the new version of SISEA.
The "Stop Internet Sexual Exploitation Act," intended to "prevent the uploading of pornographic images to online platforms without the consent of the individuals in the images,” was co-introduced last December by Merkley and Senator Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), but died without passing the committee stage before the end of the last Congress.
A revised version of the bill is expected to be reintroduced during the current Congress, which began earlier this month.
McLennan told XBIZ that Merkley’s office is currently conducting research “to gather more information and feedback about how this proposed legislation could affect content creators and others online, to ensure that the rights of consensual actors in this space will continue to be protected.”
In response to XBIZ’s questions about the timetable for re-introducing the new version of SISEA, McLennan said that “no final decisions have been made at this point about details for the bill’s reintroduction in this Congress.”
“Senator Merkley remains committed to ensuring that the worst moments of people’s lives cannot be perpetually exploited and abused for profit on the internet, while also protecting the rights of consenting adults to create and share content online,” McLennan added.
Alana Evans, president of adult performers’ union APAG, was one of the stakeholders who earlier this month held a meeting with Merkley’s office to advocate for the free expression rights of adult performers, who had vocally criticized the phrasing of SISEA.
On January 20, APAG released a statement stating that “the meeting went very well, with Merkley's staff being responsive, concerned and open to hearing our opinions about the legislation.”
APAG discussed a number of issues brought up by adult performers and sex workers concerning the controversial bill including language that “would inadvertently limit artists from being able share artist renditions of NSFW work material, including constitutionally protected art and even comics,” and the bill’s concerning establishment of an ill-defined new category of “pornographic website.”
“When the meeting came to a close,” the APAG statement concluded, “we were offered the opportunity to stay in communication with their staff to be involved as the bill is shaped for future legislative intentions. We will maintain an open dialogue to be sure when SISEA returns, it protects our workers as opposed to harming them.”