Gop Lawmakers Target Online Pornography, Propose Interstate Ban On Obscene Content

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced a measure aimed astatine criminalizing pornography and defining what is obscene and what is not.

Lee and Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., introduced nan Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA) for each states, which, if passed, would make it forbidden to transmit obscene contented crossed authorities lines while besides making it easier to prosecute.

"Obscenity isn’t protected by nan First Amendment, but hazy and unenforceable ineligible definitions person allowed utmost pornography to saturate American nine and scope countless children," Lee said successful a news release. "Our measure updates nan ineligible meaning of obscenity for nan net property truthful this contented tin beryllium taken down and its peddlers prosecuted."

The IODA attempts to explain nan meaning of obscenity successful each states and gives updated descriptions that are suited to modern content.

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Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced a measure to specify "obscenity." (Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Specifically, nan caller meaning removes nan existent law’s dependence connected ever-changing and elusive nationalist sentiment and replaces it pinch applicable standards that make obscenity identifiable, according to Lee’s team.

Lee and Miller could not beryllium reached by Fox News Digital for remark connected their projected bill.

The existent ineligible meaning of obscenity originated from a 1973 Supreme Court case, and nan standards are subjective and vague, making it difficult to use to immoderate material.

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Because nan pre-internet standards are truthful vague, they often coming challenges successful tribunal erstwhile it comes to defining what is obscene and yet let "criminals to evade prosecution," nan property merchandise said.

Lee’s IODA defines "obscenity" wrong nan Communications Act of 1934 and "appeals to nan prurient liking successful nudity, sex, aliases excretion."

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A PornHub logo connected a smartphone screen. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The measure besides "depicts, describes aliases represents existent aliases simulated activity acts" intended to "arouse, titillate aliases gratify" a person’s intersexual desires. Adding to that, nan measure identifies obscene worldly arsenic that which "lacks superior literary, artistic, political, aliases technological value."

The IODA besides removes nan "intent" requirement, which only prohibits nan transmission of obscene worldly for nan intent of abusing, threatening aliases harassing an individual.

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"The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act equips rule enforcement pinch nan devices they request to target and region obscene worldly from nan internet, which is alarmingly destructive and acold extracurricular nan bounds of protected free reside nether nan Constitution," Miller said. 

"I’m proud to lead this effort successful nan House pinch Sen. Lee to safeguard American families and guarantee this vulnerable worldly is kept retired of our homes and disconnected our screens."