Obscenity
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft Seeks to Redefine 'Smut'
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft this week attempted to clarify his proposed ban on funding for what he called “prurient” library books, by explaining that he meant “smut.”
Utah Republican Argues for Return to Pre-1973 Definition of 'Obscenity'
A Republican member of the Utah state legislature is arguing for a return to the pre-1973 standard for determining what speech or expression is “obscene” and therefore not protected by the First Amendment.
Woodhull Warns Against GOP's New Anti-LGBTQ Censorship Bill
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation has released a statement condemning a new bill proposed by House Republicans, which the organization says “threatens to deny schools, libraries and museums federal funding for discussing LGBTQ+ issues or providing even basic sex education to children.”
OnlyFans Creator Titus Low Jailed in Singapore for Obscenity
Titus Low, one of Singapore’s top OnlyFans creators, has been sentenced to a prison term and fined for violating the country’s draconian laws against “obscenity.”
Indian Government Orders Block of 67 Adult URLs, Including Top Sites
The conservative Indian government has ordered the country’s internet service providers to block 67 adult sites for violating a new IT law passed in 2021, accusing them of “tarnishing the image of modesty of women."
Michigan: GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Tudor Dixon Offers Odd Definition of 'Pornography'
Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Tudor Dixon told reporters on Tuesday that, if elected, she would define “pornography” as “two naked people, and they are acting out a sexual act, and multiple different sexual acts.”
Bali Police Continue Arresting Creators for Making 'Pornography'
Police in Bali have arrested yet another pair of creators, charging them with “producing pornographic videos and selling them via social media and instant message services.”
Thai Police Arrest Chinese Production Unit for 'Obscenity'
Thai police arrested four people on Friday in Na Jomtien, a beach town in the Sattahip district in eastern Thailand, charging them with illegally shooting adult content in contravention of Thai obscenity laws.
Malaysian Feminist Charged With 'Obscenity' Over Tweet Depicting Vulvas
A Malaysian feminist and activist was charged today with “knowingly making and initiating the transmission of obscene communication, namely pornographic pictures, with the intention of offending others" after she uploaded a collage of vulvas on her Twitter account.
Another Instagram Influencer Detained by Bali Authorities for 'Indecent Content'
Another Instagram influencer has been detained in Bali and is being investigated by police there, who accuse the creator of “creating and selling porn on social media.”
FSC: Roe v. Wade Reversal 'Threatens Adult Industry'
Free Speech Coalition has released a statement titled “Why the Overturning of Roe v. Wade Threatens the Adult Industry.”
Louisiana Bill Creating Liability for Adult Sites Signed Into Law
Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards announced last week that he had signed 97 laws passed by the state's Republican-controlled legislature, including a controversial bill sponsored by a faith-based “sex addiction” therapist and state representative, which creates liability for all “online pornography.”
Chinese Researchers Announce 'Porn Police' AI Helmet to Aid State Censorship
A Chinese research team claims to have created a “mind-reading device” that detects “porn watching,” which could be used by police to enforce the country’s strict laws against sexual expression.
Spain's Adult Creators Issue Manifesto Against Censorship Proposal
A group of leading Spanish and Spain-based independent adult content producers has released a manifesto urging action against the total censorship of adult content proposed by the governing PSOE as part of its new anti-sex-work legislation.
Texas GOP Platform Declares Pornography a 'Public Health Hazard'
The Texas Republican Party adopted a new platform for 2022 at its state convention over the weekend, including a call for the state to officially “recognize that pornography is a public health hazard.”
Nigerian Government Orders All Open Platforms to 'Remove' All Pornography
The federal government of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa, has ordered all open-access online platforms to “remove, disable or block access" to all "pornographic" content.
India: Cybercrime Police Admit Porn Ban Encourages Blackmail
An official with India’s cybercrime police agency has acknowledged an upsurge in cases of criminals blackmailing people for watching adult content online, thanks to local laws that make such viewing illegal.
India's Government Prepares to Ramp Up Online Censorship
India’s increasingly powerful Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology yesterday published proposed new rules that would give the government sweeping control over social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit, digital news publications and streaming sites — including the power to punish them for “porn” and “obscenity.”
Arizona Republican Paul Gosar Questions Free Speech Status of Porn
Arizona Republican congressman Paul Gosar made comments on social media Wednesday questioning longstanding jurisprudence protecting sexual expression as free speech under the First Amendment.
Conservative Pundits Baselessly Link 'Pornography' to Mass Shootings
Two prominent conservative newspapers, the Washington Times and the Echo Times, have now published evidence-free op-eds blaming “pornography” as one of the causes of the recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and other locations.