The Atlantic Publishes Criticism of 'War on Porn' Tactics

The Atlantic Publishes Criticism of 'War on Porn' Tactics

WASHINGTON — The Atlantic published an opinion piece today that criticizes the ongoing War on Porn campaign and its attempts to shut down legal adult content on the internet.

Penned by staff writer Olga Khazan, the opinion piece concluded that although “porn makes for an easy target” for politicians and the professional moralists who lobby them, “legislators focused on labeling it as a 'public health crisis' should consider what problems they are actually trying to solve."

“Many researchers and adult entertainment workers support measures that would reduce kids’ access to porn, ensure that porn videos portray only consenting adults and mandate fair wages for sex workers,” wrote Khazan. “Calling adults’ legal use of pornography a ‘public health crisis’ doesn’t do any of that.”

The Atlantic piece mentions copycat bills distributed by anti-porn lobbyists to likeminded state legislators and efforts to mandate “porn filters.”

The article also correctly identifies the National Center on Sexual Exploitation (NCOSE, formerly Morality in Media) as “an anti-obscenity nonprofit that produced model legislation for the porn-blocking bill and the public-health-crisis bills.”

As XBIZ reported in January, activists waging the New War on Porn routinely declare that adult content is not free expression protected by the First Amendment in the U.S. and by long-standing traditions of freedom of speech in other lands. It is "a public health crisis," a "drug" and "slavery," using language and notions developed for years — in some cases decades — in well-funded, religiously-motivated think tanks and lobbies. These groups literally have an agenda: to shut down, by whatever means necessary, online porn.

Khazan also spoke to Arizona state Representative Michelle Udall, who admitted she introduced her state’s public-health-crisis bill in 2019 "after hearing from constituents involved with the anti-porn group Fight the New Drug, and that NCOSE gave her a booklet with data and studies on porn."

To read the article, titled “The Porn Crisis That Isn’t,” visit TheAtlantic.com.

Copyright © 2025 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

FSC Publishes Analysis of Federal Trade Commission Event Promoting AV

Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published an analysis of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) event held this week that promoted age verification among other forms of speech regulation.

GirlsDoPorn Owner Michael Pratt Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

Michael Pratt, former owner of the rogue website GirlsDoPorn, pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California on Thursday to sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking charges, according to a report by City News Service.

Master Nico Relaunches Site Through YourPaysitePartner

Master Nico has relaunched his official website through YourPaysitePartner (YPP).

Federal Judge Grants Partial Halt of Florida AV Law

The United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida, Tallahassee Division, has granted a preliminary injunction against HB 3, the state's age verification law, as a lawsuit filed by two online trade associations challenging the law makes its way through the courts.

Aylo Releases Statement on Suspending Access to Pornhub in France

Technology and media company Aylo, which operates adult sites including Pornhub, YouPorn, and Redtube, has released a public statement regarding its decision to block access to its sites in France.

Pineapple Support to Host Wellness Sessions at Bucharest Summit

Pineapple Support is hosting free group and one-on-one therapy sessions at Bucharest Summit, June 3-5.

Pornhub Blocks Access in France in Response to SREN Law

Pornhub parent company Aylo has opted to block access to its sites in France rather than comply with age verification requirements under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law.

ASACP Highlights Study on Parental Controls

The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is highlighting the results of a study on the underutilization of parental controls.

Sydney Screams Launches New Site Through Grooby's Blue.xxx

Sydney Screams has launched her new membership site, SydneyScreams.xxx, through Grooby's website management company Blue.xxx.

Mistress Mystii Is LoyalFans' 'Featured Creator' for June

LoyalFans has named Mistress Mystii as its Featured Creator for June.

Show More