A shocking new bill could make pornography a federal crime across the US.
Project 2025 is a right wing political initiative that was first published in 2023 in anticipation of Donald Trump winning the 2024 presidential election.
Launched by think-tank the Heritage Foundation, the plan hopes to reshape federal government and consolidate executive power in favor of right wing policies.
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And one of the project’s plans include the permanent criminalization of pornography in the United States.
Now, a bill has been introduced by a Republican senator that hopes to achieve just that.
The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA) has been put forward by Senator Mike Lee.
If approved, the bill, which sets out to legally define the term ‘obscenity’, will make all pornography illegal.
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Lee said: “Obscenity isn’t protected by the First Amendment, but hazy and unenforceable legal definitions have allowed extreme pornography to saturate American society and reach countless children.
“Our bill updates the legal definition of obscenity for the internet age so this content can be taken down and its peddlers prosecuted.”
This means that a ‘picture, image, graphic image file, film, videotape, or other visual depiction’ of any piece of media that ‘appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion’ would be criminalized.
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In the bill, it states: “Obscenity is already unprotected speech under the First Amendment, but its current definition makes it difficult to assess and prosecute. The current legal definition of obscenity was taken from a Supreme Court case argued in 1973.
“Its standards are subjective and vague, making it difficult to apply with certainty to any given material. Using a pre-internet standard for modern times presents serious challenges – particularly when states use differing definitions for ‘obscenity’ – and allows criminals to evade prosecution.”
Representative Mary Miller added: “The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act equips law enforcement with the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet, which is alarmingly destructive and far outside the bounds of protected free speech under the Constitution.
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“I’m proud to lead this effort in the House with Senator Lee to safeguard American families and ensure this dangerous material is kept out of our homes and off our screens.”
However, due to the broad statements made in the bill, it has left many to wonder where the law would draw the line on obscenity as it could effectively criminalize films and TV shows including the likes of Game of Thrones.