Censorship
Chinese Tech Mogul Held by Authorities Over Alleged Adult Content on Video Platform
Chen Shaojie, founder and CEO of DouYu — China’s leading video streaming platform — is being held by Chinese authorities over supposed “pornographic content” on the site.
Biblically Inspired Alabama Legislator to Introduce Copycat Anti-Porn Legislation
A religious conservative lawmaker in Alabama revealed Monday that she intends to introduce a copycat age verification bill as soon as the state legislature’s 2024 session begins.
Texas AG Ken Paxton Files Motion to Dismiss FSC Lawsuit Over Mandatory Labeling
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday filed a partial motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and other plaintiffs against the state’s controversial age verification law, which mandates that adult websites post anti-porn propaganda.
Ugandan Police Arrest 7 Women Suspected of Making Adult Content
Ugandan police this weekend arrested seven women suspected of producing adult content.
Bloomberg Law Report Links 'Addiction' Lawsuits Against Meta, Age Verification Battles
Bloomberg Law published a report on Thursday, linking the onslaught of federal and state lawsuits against Meta over the supposed addictive nature of Instagram and Facebook with the anti-porn “age verification” controversies around the country.
UK's Controversial 'Online Safety Bill' Becomes Law
The U.K.’s controversial Online Safety Bill received royal assent Thursday and became law.
Cambodian Police Stage Mass Arrest of Alleged Porn Producers
Cambodian police on Tuesday arrested more than 30 Chinese nationals in Phnom Penh, charging them with producing adult content, which is illegal in the country.
Spain's Far-Right Vox Party Now Pushing for Mandatory 'Porn Filters'
Spain’s influential far-right Vox party has begun pushing the Madrid legislature to mandate default “porn filters” on devices accessible to minors.
New House Speaker Mike Johnson Vowed to Push Anti-Porn Legislation
The new speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Louisiana Republican Mike Johnson, elected Wednesday by his GOP colleagues after a weeks-long stalemate, last year vowed to promote anti-porn, anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-sex-education legislation if he ever had the authority.
Woodhull Freedom Foundation to Hold Online Events on Censorship, Obscenity
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation is set to host a series of three online events focusing on art censorship in the current environment.
Out-of-State Religious Conservative Activists File Brief Supporting Anti-Porn Texas Law
An extreme-right Virginia attorney with Trump links, acting on behalf of an obscure organization led by a Colorado-based religious conservative activist and former child actor, has filed a lengthy brief in a federal appeals court in Texas, supporting the state’s controversial new age verification and mandatory labeling law.
X Now Shadow-Banning Users for 'Potential' Sexual Content
X.com users have begun reporting instances of Elon Musk’s new shadow-ban transparency policy, under which accounts are flagged by the company without user input for “potentially” containing sensitive media.
German Media Regulator Moves Forward With Block of Pornhub, Other Tube Sites
Germany's federal media regulator has initiated steps to order a block of Pornhub, YouPorn and MyDirtyHobby, escalating the country’s war against online adult content over age verification, a campaign which has been largely spearheaded by a single local bureaucrat.
France's Parliament Passes Controversial Law to Regulate Online Content, Including Adult
The French National Assembly, the country’s lower chamber of parliament, on Tuesday passed the controversial Law Aiming to Secure and Regulate the Digital Space, which includes provisions targeting adult content added during a period of relentless media attacks and panic-mongering against the porn industry.
Utah Proposes Rule to Check People's Age Online
The state of Utah on Monday released its first proposed rule to regulate how social media platforms verify the age of their users in the state.
Australia's Top Online Censor Fines X for Refusing to Answer Moderation Questions
Australia’s top censor, E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant, has slapped X.com with a fine of 610,500 Australian dollars (approximately $386,000) for violating the country’s new Online Safety Act.
Ohio Republican's 'Innocence Act' Could Criminalize Online Nudes
A Republican lawmaker in Ohio introduced this week an age verification bill called the “Innocence Act,” which observers have pointed out that, as submitted, could criminalize the posting of any nude image online without verifying age as a felony.
Alabama Anti-Porn Panic Causes Book to Be Flagged Because Author's Surname is 'Gay'
Amidst out-of-control anti-porn panic mongering in Alabama, a library system added children’s title “Read Me a Story, Stella” to a list of potentially “sexually explicit” books because the author is named Marie-Louise Gay.
Thai Police Conduct New Sex Toy Raid
Thai police have arrested two people for running an underground sex toy business, seizing from their home over 18,000 pleasure products, which are illegal in Thailand.
Judge Partially Dismisses FSC Lawsuit to Stop Louisiana Age Verification Law
A federal judge has granted a motion by Louisiana officials to dismiss part of the lawsuit filed by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and other plaintiffs seeking to block that state’s age verification law.