Utah Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill Mandating Default 'Porn Blocks' on All Devices

Utah Lawmaker Reintroduces Bill Mandating Default 'Porn Blocks' on All Devices

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah politicians continue their periodic attempts to pass hard-to-enforce state bills — allegedly to protect the citizenry from a made-up “public health crisis” around porn — with a new bill introduced to the legislature this week requiring “new electronic devices” to have pornography filters turned on by default.

The most recent example of Utah politicians' single-minded obsession with pornography comes courtesy of Representative Susan Pulsipher (R-South Jordan). Her House Bill 72 mandating porn filters — from which for-profit, faith-based software companies have been profiting for some time — would go into effect in 2022, the local CBS affiliate reported, adding that international manufacturers of phones and computers like Apple or Google may face civil liability if they don't comply.

“If a user does not want the filter, they would need to turn it off manually,” KUTV added.

One State's Obsessive 'War on Porn'

As XBIZ has been reporting, Utah legislators spend much time and the Western state’s limited resources introducing, debating and occasionally passing bills decrying “the scourge of pornography.”

Last year, the legislature passed a bill mandating that all adult content on the internet carry a specific warning label, under penalty of state fines.

This theatrical, almost-impossible-to-enforce bill was not signed by Governor Herbert, who let it die by exercising his “pocket veto” prerogative.

Herbert showed some practical restraint, in contrast with his 2016 signing of a resolution drafted by religious anti-porn group NCOSE (aka Morality in Media) declaring the existence of a dubious “public health crisis” around porn, and recommended that public health resources be spent training health care workers on how to combat it.

Representative Pulsipher's original draft of the bill she introduced this week had been criticized by other state lawmakers back in October.

As XBIZ reported, her proposal to require smartphones and computers to have pre-installed porn-blocking software, and to have it activated as the default option when sold to Utahns, was quashed during a committee hearing at the state's Business and Labor Interim Committee.

According to a report by Deseret News at the time, Pulsipher said “the goal of her effort was to create another wall of defense to help protect children from ‘the damaging impact of pornography’ and ‘empower parents and legal guardians to limit a minor’s exposure to such online harmful material.'"

Several members of the Utah Business and Labor Interim Committee, however, noted then that “it would be extremely difficult to identify which entity in the consumer electronics supply chain should be held liable for ensuring that software was activated."

According to public records, Representative Pulsipher's declared occupation is as a real estate appraiser. She appears to have no background in technology issues.

Main Image: Utah State Representative Susan Pulsipher (R-South Jordan). Photo: Utah House of Representatives.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Tyler Wu Guests on Chaturbate's 'Sex Tales' Podcast

Tyler Wu is the latest guest on Chaturbate’s “Sex Tales” podcast, hosted by Melissa Stratton and Vanniall on the company’s “Camming Life” YouTube channel.

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eremote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eremote.

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Pre-Nominations Now Open for 2025 TEAs

The pre-nomination period for the 2025 Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs) is now open.

Byborg Invests $22.35M in PLBY Group

Luxembourg-based Byborg Enterprises SA is investing $22.35 million in Playboy parent company PLBY Group.

Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Texas AV Law in January

The United States Supreme Court has scheduled oral arguments for Free Speech Coalition's challenge to Texas’ age verification law to take place Wednesday, Jan. 15.

2025 XBIZ Exec Awards Nominees for Online Industry Announced

XBIZ is pleased to announce the nominees for the online industry edition of the 2025 XBIZ Exec Awards, set to be presented as part of the annual XBIZ Honors ceremony on Wednesday, Jan. 15 in conjunction with the XBIZ 2025 conference.

Project 2025 Leader Claims Big Tech Companies 'Deliberately Fuel Pornography Addiction' Among Men

Heritage Foundation president and Project 2025 leader Kevin Roberts published on Wednesday the text of a speech in which he persists with his past claim that “predatory Big Tech corporations” are “deliberately fueling pornography addiction” among young men.

FSC Petitions 10th Circuit for Review of Utah AV Dismissal

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) on Wednesday petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit to review a decision handed down earlier this month by a three-judge panel of the same appeals court, which denied FSC the right to challenge Utah’s controversial age verification law by suing state officials.

MyAdultAttorney's Corey D. Silverstein to Hold Post-Election Legal Impact Webinar

Industry attorney Corey D. Silverstein will hold a “Legal Impact” webinar titled “We Have a New U.S. President: Legal and Community Implications” on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. PST.

Show More