Censorship
ACLU, FSC Raise Objections to Senate's New Section 230-Busting Bill
An ACLU-led coalition of civil rights groups and groups representing LGBTQ+ individuals, sex workers, journalists and libraries issued an open letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday warning against the Strengthening Transparency and Obligations to Protect Children Suffering from Abuse and Mistreatment (STOP CSAM) Act.
Maggie MacDonald's New Video Demystifies the Adult Platform Business
Information technology researcher Maggie MacDonald released a video Friday explaining “how content creation, algorithms, media amplification and panicky policy have shaped how porn looks today.”
UK Parliament Passes Controversial 'Online Safety Bill'
The U.K. Parliament on Tuesday passed the much-delayed Online Safety Bill, despite vocal criticisms by virtually all digital rights and free speech organizations and advocates.
Italian Government Pulls Back on Controversial Anti-Porn Language in 'Youth Crime' Bill
The far-right administration of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has reportedly pulled back from anti-porn language that had been inserted into a controversial “youth crime” executive order, which was fast-tracked after the media sensationalized specific incidents of sexual assaults.
Pittsburgh's Largest Newspaper Calls for State Regulation of Adult Content
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the city’s largest newspaper, published an editorial Thursday calling for state intervention to “shield kids from online porn.”
UK Government Poised to Restrict Adult Content Through Controversial 'Online Safety Bill'
The U.K.’s much delayed Online Safety Bill appears to be heading toward implementation after last-minute negotiations in the House of Lords, despite vocal criticisms by virtually all digital rights and free speech organizations and advocates.
Impeachment Trial Begins for Disgraced Anti-Porn Texas AG Ken Paxton
The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a staunch anti-porn Republican culture warrior, began Tuesday in the state Senate, probing allegations of “bribery, unfitness for office and abuse of public trust.”
Judge Blocks Arkansas 'Social Media Safety' Age Verification Law
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas on Thursday granted a preliminary injunction blocking the Arkansas government from enforcing the state’s sweeping new Social Media Safety Act, which was scheduled to take effect today, until its merits are litigated.
Australia Nixes Age Verification Mandate for Adult Sites Over Privacy Concerns
The Australian government announced Wednesday that it will not require adult websites to implement age verification.
Pennsylvania Republican Reintroduces 'Mandatory Porn Filter' Copycat Bill
Republican State Rep. Jim Gregory has reintroduced a copycat bill to require electronics manufacturers to activate “porn filters” on all devices sold in Pennsylvania.
Pope Criticizes Religious People Who Focus Too Much on 'Sins of the Flesh'
Pope Francis earlier this month criticized religious people who would rather “look at the so-called ‘sins of the flesh’ with a magnifying glass” than address other sinful behavior like exploiting workers.
Jessica Stoya Pens Porn Positivity Essay for Reason Magazine
Jessica Stoya has contributed a new essay to Reason magazine, about how online adult content can be an important source of community and information regarding human sexuality.
SWERF Democrat, Christian Lobby Team Up to Push 'Age Verification' Law in Maine
Democratic State Rep. Lois Reckitt has teamed up with Maine’s Christian Civic League to propose a new “age verification” law, as that state’s version of the controversial legislation that religious Republicans have been promoting around the country in an effort to reinstitute obscenity prosecutions at the federal level.
FSC Warns of Risks to Adult Sites if Texas Age Verification Law Takes Effect Sept. 1
Free Speech Coalition (FSC) issued a statement Thursday urging industry stakeholders to prepare for the new Texas age-verification and labeling law set to take effect Sept. 1.
Texas Interim Attorney General Argues All Adult Content is 'Obscene,' Not Protected by 1st Amendment
Texas’ interim attorney general, Angela Colmenero, on Tuesday issued a response to the Free Speech Coalition (FSC) lawsuit against the state’s controversial age verification law, contending that adult content is “obscene” and therefore not entitled to First Amendment protections.
Virginia Press Reports on Failure of Recent Anti-Porn Law
The Virginia Mercury newspaper Wednesday published its first report assessing the effectiveness of the commonwealth’s recent age verification law promoted by anti-porn activists and religious conservative Republicans.
Texas Dept. of Health and Human Services Refuses to Answer Questions About Anti-Porn Law's Mandatory 'Warnings'
The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has declined to confirm or deny whether the “health warnings” mandated by the state’s recent anti-porn age verification law are supported by any official documentation or statement produced by that office.
Instagram Now Censoring SFW Images From '90s Erotic Dramas
Instagram this week censored several posts promoting the acclaimed film history podcast “You Must Remember This,” including SFW images from ’90s erotic drama “Indecent Proposal,” starring Demi Moore, Woody Harrelson and Robert Redford.
Virginia Democrats Admit to Trading Off Their Age Verification Votes for Unrelated Bill
A Democratic Virginia state senator has admitted that he and Republican senators used the issue of age verification for adult material as a bargaining chip to negotiate the language of an unrelated piece of legislation.
Judge Postpones Start of Backpage.com Trial
The Arizona federal judge in charge of the Backpage.com retrial pushed back the start of the trial during a hearing on Friday, following the death of co-defendant James “Jim” Larkin.