Censorship
West Virginia Governor Blames 'Pornography' for Texas School Shootings
The Republican governor of West Virginia, Jim Justice, made statements yesterday blaming “access to pornography” as one of the main causes of mass shootings like the Uvalde, Texas massacre of 19 children and two teachers.
Supreme Court Puts Texas Online Platform Liability Law on Hold
In an unusual 5-4 vote that did not follow ideological lines, the Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a controversial Texas social media law that would have made social media platforms liable for moderating content based on what the law defined as “viewpoints.”
Ohio Republican Senate Candidate JD Vance Calls for 'Outright Ban' on Porn
Recent coverage of Ohio Republican J.D. Vance, a candidate for the U.S. Senate, has foregrounded a year-old interview with a Catholic publication where he calls for an “outright ban” on porn.
Local German Anti-Porn Crusader Plans to Expand Surveillance Tool to All of Europe
The local official behind the crusade for Germany to require age verification for viewing sexual content is now seeking to expand to all of Europe the use of his new AI tool, KIVI, which automatically scans all online content to determine which images are not compliant with the law.
Virginia Republicans Revive Obscure Anti-Porn Law to Ban Books
Two Republican politicians in Virginia have revived an obscure anti-pornography law not invoked in decades to ask a judge for a restraining order preventing Barnes & Noble from selling certain books the lawmakers find objectionable to minors.
French Court Rejects Religiously Inspired Attempt to Block Top Tube Sites
A Paris court of appeals rejected last week the attempt by local War on Porn groups, led by an extremist Catholic organization, to use France’s media authority and the courts to block the most popular adult tube sites in the country.
11th Circuit Rebukes Bulk of DeSantis' Florida Social Media Law
The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a ruling today blocking the major provisions of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial Florida’s social media law, which would have held social media platforms liable for moderation policies in the name of political, but not sexual, "free speech."
Proposed Oklahoma Bill Aims to Outlaw 'Giving Porn to the Homeless'
A strange new bill introduced by Oklahoma State Senator Rob Standridge would make it illegal to knowingly give “obscene material” to a “vulnerable person,” explicitly including unhoused people.
Digital Rights Groups Lambast European Commission's Online Surveillance Proposal
Digital rights and privacy advocates are raising the alarm about an EU legislative proposal unveiled yesterday by the European Commission, allegedly to address “misuse of online services” and “prevent and combat child sexual abuse online.”
5th Circuit Gives Go Ahead to Controversial Texas Social Media Liability Law
A three-judge appeals panel ruled today that an extremely controversial new Texas law making online platforms liable for “viewpoint discrimination” can go into effect immediately.
Progressive German Newspaper Asks for State-Funded 'Educational' Porn
Progressive German publication Taz published an opinion piece last week suggesting that state public media fund “educational” porn as part of their mandate to “protect children,” rather than attempt to censor the commercial variety.
The Atlantic Explores Social Media 'Shadowbanning'
The Atlantic has published an article analyzing the phenomenon of “shadowbanning," including its deployment against sex workers by social media platforms, labeling the practice “Big Tech’s big problem.”
Republican Senators Pressure TV Ratings Board Over 'Disturbing' LGBTQ+ Content
Five Republican senators are demanding an overhaul of the current TV ratings system to include warnings about LGBTQ+ content, which they claim “not only harms children, but also destabilizes and damages parental rights.”
Art News Site 'Hyperallergic' Tackles Instagram Censorship Over Bogus 'Sexual Solicitation'
Prominent art news site Hyperallergic has published an essay targeting Instagram's controversial practice of censoring sexual content by inaccurately labeling posts as “sexual solicitation.”
Ohio Activist Holds on to School Board Seat After Posting Porn Link
A school board member in Ohio who is active in the ongoing GOP campaign to ban books deemed "pornographic" from libraries across the country is resisting pressure to resign after she shared a link to an actual porn website during one of her morality tirades on Facebook.
French Regulator Initiates Action to Block 2 More Adult Tube Sites
Several weeks after targeting five leading adult tube sites, France’s media regulator ARCOM has initiated a new legal action, this time demanding that the country’s ISPs totally block MindGeek-owned sites YouPorn and RedTube over their alleged lack of enforcement of a controversial age verification mandate.
Council of Europe Urges Mandatory 'Porn Filters,' Endorses 'Porn Addiction' Myth
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the continent’s main post-World War II human rights organization, issued a resolution today urging European nations to mandate online filters for “pornographic materials” on all devices, to be “systematically activated in public spaces, such as schools, libraries and youth clubs.”
Woodhull Files Appeal in FOSTA-SESTA Challenge Suit
The Woodhull Freedom Foundation has filed an appeal in its suit challenging the constitutionality of FOSTA-SESTA.
Influential Labour MP Asks UK Government to 'Proactively' Police Adult Content
As the U.K.’s Online Safety Bill navigates the committee stage in the House of Commons, the Labour MP who chairs the Home Affairs Committee is actively lobbying to make the government proactively police “whether adult entertainers have properly consented to appear in pornographic films” even if there are no reports suggesting they have not.
XBIZ News Editor Speaks at UC Santa Barbara on 'War on Porn'
XBIZ News Editor Gustavo Turner spoke yesterday about the “War on Porn” as part of professor Constance Penley’s film and media studies class on pornography at the University of California, Santa Barbara.