Censorship
Judge Moves Backpage.com Retrial Forward Despite Jim Larkin's Death
The Arizona federal judge in charge of the Backpage.com retrial issued an order Tuesday stating that she is aware of the death of co-defendant James “Jim” Larkin, but nonetheless expects the parties in the case to prepare for trial to commence next Tuesday.
Former Backpage Executive Jim Larkin Dies Days Before Retrial
Former Backpage.com executive James “Jim” Larkin, a co-defendant in the ongoing Backpage.com case due to be retried this month after a 2021 mistrial, died by suicide Monday in Superior, Arizona.
FSC to Appeal Following Utah Judge's Dismissal of 'Age Verification' Challenge
After a Utah judge on Tuesday morning granted the state its motion to dismiss Free Speech Coalition's challenge to a new, vaguely worded "age verification" mandate, the adult industry trade group announced that it will appeal that decision.
Influential Pastor Urges Christians to 'Stop Porn'
Amidst a ramping up of religious conservative “porn addiction” propaganda timed to influence the Senate debate on KOSA and COPPA, influential pastor Nick Vujicic has taken to the interview circuit to ask for porn to be stopped and for churches to get involved in “addressing sexual sin.”
Pornhub Blocks Access in Arkansas Before Vague 'Age Verification' Law Goes Into Effect
Pornhub has disabled access to its site in Arkansas in anticipation of a punitive new “age verification” law promoted by religious conservatives, set to take effect Tuesday.
Controversial KOSA, COPPA Bills Pass Commerce Committee, Head to Senate Floor
The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved by a unanimous voice vote two controversial “online safety” bills that have been criticized by leading digital rights and privacy advocates.
Leading Digital Rights, Privacy Orgs Urge Immediate Action Against 'Bad Internet Bills'
Tomorrow is the last day to participate in the “Tell Congress, Say No to #BadInternetBills” campaign, coordinated by leading digital rights and privacy organizations.
Biden Urges Lawmakers to Pass Controversial 'Online Safety' Bills
President Joe Biden on Tuesday urged lawmakers to pass controversial “online safety” bills KOSA and COPPA, currently making their way through the Senate.
Legal Opinion Lambasts UK's 'Online Safety Bill' As Dangerous, Possibly Unlawful
British digital rights advocacy nonprofit Open Rights Group (ORG) has released a formal legal assessment of the prior restraint provisions in the U.K.’s proposed Online Safety Bill, deeming the current version dangerous and potentially unlawful.
Virginia Republican Behind Age Verification Law Calls Adult Content 'Not Normal'
State Sen. Bill Stanley, author of the age verification law that led Pornhub to shut down access in the commonwealth of Virginia, has defended the controversial, vaguely worded mandate by claiming that adult websites are harmful because their content is “not normal.”
French Court Postpones Decision on Blocking Adult Sites
The Paris Judicial Tribunal on Friday decided to postpone its decision on whether to order internet service providers in the country to block access to five of the most visited adult tube sites in France.
Meta Debuts Twitter Competitor 'Threads,' Bans Female Nipples
Mere hours after Meta launched Twitter-competitor app Threads on Wednesday, the head of Instagram confirmed that female nipples and everything else considered “nudity” will not be allowed on the platform.
French Senate Approves Rules to 'Complicate the Lives' of Adult Content Producers
The French Senate on Tuesday twice amended a bill to “secure and regulate the digital space,” adding provisions that would mandate warnings if any adult content simulates an illegal act, and require sites to remove adult content upon a performer’s request.
Age Verification for Adult Content Becomes Mandatory in Virginia and Mississippi Tomorrow
New laws mandating age verification for adult websites in Virginia and Mississippi, passed by both states’ legislatures earlier this year, will take effect on Saturday.
Sen. Josh Hawley's New Book on Manhood Lambasts 'Timid, Weak, Sterile' Porn Watchers
“Manhood,” the new book by controversial U.S. Senator Josh Hawley of Kansas, features an extended chapter titled “Cheap Sex,” in which the Republican politician asserts, “Nothing could be more timid or weak, more sterile, than a man, alone, staring at porn on his phone.”
Maryland Legalizes Oral, Anal Sex
The state of Maryland has repealed the Unnatural or Perverted Sexual Practice Act, which criminalized any sexual act outside of vaginal penetration.
Apple Warns UK Government of Serious Privacy Risks if 'Online Safety Bill' Passes
Apple has issued a statement warning against serious privacy risks that it says would result from the passage of the Online Safety Bill currently being fast-tracked by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Jessica Stoya Discusses Censorship of Adult Content for Document Journal
Writer and former performer Jessica Stoya discussed the current state of online porn culture and the attempts to censor it, in a conversation published last week by Document Journal.
Spanish Feminist Leader Crosses Party Lines to Demand Porn Censorship, Sex Work Abolition
Veteran Spanish feminist academic and activist Amelia Valcárcel reaffirmed her alliance with the right-wing Partido Popular (PP) on Wednesday by issuing a demand for the adoption of 10 policy items, starting with censorship of adult content and the abolition of all sex work.
British Baroness Defends Controversial California Age Verification Law She Inspired
The Baroness Beeban Kidron, a British aristocrat with California and Hollywood ties, was the subject last week of a fawning profile by Politico, in which she continued to defend her controversial campaigns for internet age verification in the U.K. and California.