Utah's Leading Anti-Porn Crusader Proposes Jail Time Over 'Porn Filter' Activation

Utah's Leading Anti-Porn Crusader Proposes Jail Time Over 'Porn Filter' Activation

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s leading anti-porn crusader, state Sen. Todd Weiler, has introduced a measure mandating prison time for any electronics manufacturer worldwide who fails to install and activate a default anti-porn filter on devices sold in the Mormon-majority state.

Weiler (R-Woods Cross) introduced SB 104, which would “accelerate part of a porn-blocking bill passed in 2021, which required all new cellphones and tablets sold in Utah, meant for both children and adults, to come with pornography filters activated as a default setting,” the Salt Lake City Tribune reported.

As XBIZ reported, Utah’s Republican governor, Spencer J. Cox, signed in 2021 the controversial Republican bill HB 72, mandating a default porn filter on electronic devices sold in the state.

Members of Utah trade associations, tech company lobbies and free speech groups all advocated against HB 72.

The bill, a version of which a religious conservative legislator had unsuccessfully proposed in 2020, only moved forward after it was amended to indicate that it “will not go into effect until five additional states have adopted similar language. It gives a 10-year period for that to occur,” the Salt Lake City Fox affiliate reported.

Weiler vociferously complained at the time about the additional requirements. 

“In the years since then, we’ve kind of made ourselves an outlier when it comes to social media and porn websites,” he said. “So it kind of begs the question, why are we waiting for other states on this one?”

Mythical ‘Porn Addiction’ Again Cited as Justification

Weiler said his current proposal, SB 104, “is intended to protect children from developing an addiction to pornography,” though the pseudoscientific notion of porn addiction has been repeatedly debunked by public health scientists.

At a Utah Senate meeting, Elder Merv Arnold, a former General Authority for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), stated, “The whole issue constitutionally has been that we can’t restrict the adults from receiving the material. This does not.”

Utah, Arnold continued, “has a fabulous record … for being out in front and protecting our children and grandchildren from these kinds of issues. And this is just one more step in that direction.”

Utah has often led other states in implementing anti-porn legislation. In practice, the state has little separation between church, state, press, education and business, and the Mormon church — with which a majority of Utahns claim affiliation — has resisted scientific, evidence-based and parent-focused approaches to protecting children online.

Despite the national GOP’s laissez-faire philosophy regarding most business and regulatory issues, Utah’s Republican officeholders have relentlessly championed blanket mandates when it comes to default manufacturer-enabled filters or age verification systems.

The LDS Church has also promoted “porn filters” in Utah and nationwide, based on church elders’ theological belief that all porn — a term that for them encompasses all depictions of sexuality outside of the Mormon marriage — is a ploy by Satan to destroy Mormon households.

Legislation mandating porn filters like Weiler’s proposals would also result in a financial boom for filter businesses, which would be able to bid for both public and private contracts.

Leading anti-porn organization NCOSE, formerly Morality in Media, is currently led by Mormon activist Dawn Hawkins, who has endorsed for-profit religious porn filters like Covenant Eyes, telling the Baptist Press that she has heard from hundreds of people who “have struggled with pornography addiction and dependencies” and who found help through “an accountability model, similar to AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and many successful gambling recovery programs.”

Ron DeHaas, president and co-founder of Covenant Eyes, sits on NCOSE’s board of directors.

Copyright © 2025 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

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Only Tax Deductions Joins Pineapple Support as Sponsor

Adult industry accounting firm Only Tax Deductions has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Adult Empire Launches 'Conversations' Podcast Series

Adult Empire has launched a new official podcast series hosted by Nicole Chappelle and Charlie.

Sex Work CEO Launches 'Teams Plan' for AI Assistant

Sex Work CEO has introduced the new Teams Plan for its AI-powered, NSFW text generator, GPTease.

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult Industry, Override Possible

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

Show More