Free Speech
North Dakota Republicans' Bill Proposes Total 'Obscenity Control'
A partisan bill introduced by North Dakota Republican state senators would redefine “obscene material and performance” and “explicit sexual material” in extremely broad terms that would result in creating criminal liability for almost all instances of nudity and references to sex outside of adult venues.
TEAs, Grooby to Donate Ticket Proceeds to Free Speech Coalition
The Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs) and Grooby will donate a portion of tickets sold to the 2023 TEAs to the Free Speech Coalition (FSC).
Louisianans Forced to Enter Government ID to Look at Porn Online
People in Louisiana who wish to visit adult websites are now required to enter their government ID, following the implementation of a controversial new state law promoted by a religious activist and Republican legislator, which came into effect Sunday.
Texas Attorney General Files Brief to Narrow Section 230 Protections
Texas’ Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton filed an amicus brief yesterday urging the U.S. Supreme Court to radically narrow the scope of Section 230 protection for websites.
Fargo Amends Zoning Code to Target Adult Boutiques
The Fargo City Commission approved amendments to its “adult entertainment establishments” zoning ordinance to limit the business of adult boutiques in the North Dakota city.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee Introduces Bill to Outlaw All Porn Nationwide
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) this week introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, a bill that nominally aims to “establish a national definition of obscenity” but which would, in effect, outlaw all online sexual content nationwide.
Cherie DeVille Warns Against J.D. Vance's Anti-Porn Crusade
Cherie DeVille has penned an editorial for the Daily Beast, warning about ongoing anti-porn crusading by Ohio’s Senator-elect J. D. Vance.
Canada: Senator Forces Age Verification Measure Targeting 'Sexual Activity' Depictions
A Canadian senator and anti-porn crusader who has collaborated with religiously motivated U.S. conservative groups has inserted a controversial amendment into a pending bill, requiring platforms to enact age verification systems if they allow any depictions of sexual content.
Instagram Launches New Tool Notifying Users Who Have Been Shadow-Banned
In a move away from Meta’s longtime policy of denying the existence of "shadow bans," Instagram has launched a new tool to let users know if their posts are “barred from being recommended to other users.”
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Steps Up Crusade Against 'Salacious Pornography'
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft has clashed with the St. Louis County Public Library as he pursues his current campaign against what he calls “materials that appeal to the prurient interest of any minor.”
TikTok Sex Censorship Results in Rise of Euphemistic 'Algospeak'
Online trend watchers have been flagging a noticeable rise in the use of “algospeak,” euphemistic terms used to avoid sex-related censorship on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Florida Seeking to Redefine Sex Censorship Language
The Republican-run state government of Florida is stepping up efforts to redefine legal and policy terminology in a campaign to censor free speech concerning sexuality.
UK's Online Safety Bill Remains Mired in Conceptual Chaos
The Tory government led by Rishi Sunak has reintroduced the Online Safety Bill, which has now been amended to remove some of the language that would have forced platforms to censor content the government termed “legal but harmful.”
Woodhull Files New Reply Brief Challenging FOSTA
Woodhull Freedom Foundation has filed a reply brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the latest action in the organization's four-year legal battle to have FOSTA-SESTA declared unconstitutional.
5th Circuit Upholds Texas' Controversial Online Platform Liability Law
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today upheld a controversial Texas law prohibiting social media platforms from “censoring speech based on the viewpoint of its speaker,” in a decision that ignored long-standing precedent that First Amendment protections prohibit only censorship by the government, not by private companies.
9th Circuit Hears Arguments in Backpage.com Appeal
Attorneys for the former owners of Backpage.com and for the federal government presented arguments this morning before a three-judge Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel, in the defendants' appeal of a lower court's denial to dismiss the case.
California Passes Controversial Age Verification Bill Drafted by British Baroness
The California legislature on Tuesday passed a highly controversial bill mandating sweeping yet vague age verification measures for any web site “likely to be accessed by children,” now waiting to be signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom.
Free Speech Coalition Launches OnlyFans Page
Free Speech Coalition has launched an OnlyFans page to connect with creators who may not be aligned with the traditional adult industry.
UK Prime Minister Front-Runner Liz Truss Endorses Imaginary '2-Track' Internet
U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, the current leading Conservative Party candidate to succeed resigning Prime Minister Boris Johnson, recently expressed support for the controversial Online Safety Bill with a mystifying statement about an imaginary “two-track internet,” described by observers as “one for teens and one that protects adult free speech.”
Utah Board of Education Adopts Guidelines for How to Ban 'Pornographic' Material
The Utah State Board of Education has approved official guidelines for how to ban books and other material from school libraries, amidst a moral panic stoked by religiously inspired activists seeking to cleanse education of “pornography.”