Censorship
Twitch Reinstates Ban on Adult Content
Two days after Twitch revised its rules to allow some “artistic” nudity, CEO Dan Clancy announced Friday that the company had reinstated its ban on sexual content.
Religiously Motivated Anti-Porn Groups Sign Letter Endorsing KOSA
Several major religiously inspired anti-porn lobbies, including NCOSE, have endorsed a letter to the U.S. Senate supporting the controversial Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), a bill that digital rights and free speech advocates have warned will limit online free speech.
New Mexico AG: Pornhub, OnlyFans Safer Than Facebook, Instagram
The office of New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has asserted, in a statement announcing the state’s lawsuit against Meta, that some child sexual abuse material (CSAM) is 10 times more prevalent on Facebook and Instagram than on Pornhub and OnlyFans.
Fiji Government to Launch Task Force to Reduce Porn Viewership
Fiji’s government has announced a forthcoming “task force” aiming to reduce porn viewership among its citizens, following a political and media campaign that sensationalized the issue of access to adult material in the island nation.
Tennessee Republican Proposes Felony Charges in Copycat Age Verification Bill
Republican state Rep. Patsy Hazlewood on Wednesday filed an age verification bill with the Tennessee state legislature, a copycat version of the numerous age verification bills being advanced by religious conservatives and anti-porn crusaders around the country.
Australian Right Foregrounds Age Verification as Political Wedge Issue
Australia’s conservative Liberal Party and the country’s influential right-wing media have recently begun foregrounding age verification for viewing adult content as a political wedge issue against the Australian Labor Party government led by Prime Minister Norman Albanese.
Google Cracks Down on Adult Sites That Utilize Its 'Programmable Search Engine' Tool
Google disabled its Programmable Search Engine (ProSE) product on several adult sites on Tuesday, after ad industry trade publications sensationalized a report claiming that ads for major mainstream brands were appearing alongside pornographic and other controversial content.
'Glenn Beck Program' Promotes Faith-Based Anti-Porn Surveillance App
“The Glenn Beck Program” aired a segment Friday promoting the faith-based anti-porn surveillance software Covenant Eyes and editorializing on recent news that the current speaker of the house, Republican Mike Johnson, is a user and subscriber.
Italy to Roll Out 'Test' Adult Content Filter Mandate Next Week
Italy will begin enforcing a new, experimental directive from online regulators on Tuesday, requiring all phone providers to install a default filter for certain kinds of content, including all adult content, on SIM cards registered to minors.
Jury Reaches Mixed Verdict in Backpage Owner, Execs Trial
The jury in the federal retrial in Arizona of former Backpage.com owner Mike Lacey and some of the company’s executives reached a verdict Thursday, finding Lacey guilty on one count of international concealment money laundering.
Sen. Mike Lee Introduces Bill to Expand Utah's Anti-Porn AV Law Nationwide
Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on Tuesday reintroduced his proposal for a federal age-verification law that would expand Utah’s anti-porn legislation, promoted by religious conservatives, to the entire United States.
FSC Releases Statement on Latest 5th Circuit Decision in Texas AV Injunction Case
Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement about the ongoing litigation against Texas' anti-porn age verification law, which mandates propaganda labels on adult websites.
German Proposal Aims to Shut Down Financial Services for Adult Sites
German authorities have introduced a proposal to facilitate network blocks against adult sites deemed to have inadequate age verification systems, and also to prohibit financial institutions from providing payment services to those sites.
Omegle Shut Down as Part of Civil Lawsuit Settlement
Video chat platform Omegle was shuttered earlier this week, reportedly as part of a settlement in a civil lawsuit brought on behalf of a woman who met an alleged abuser through the service when she was a minor.
Washington Post Links Trump Campaign With Plan to Criminalize All Porn Creators, Distributors
The Washington Post published on Monday an in-depth report linking the current Trump presidential campaign with “Project 2025,” a coalition of conservative organizations whose road map for the next Republican presidential administration includes a call to immediately outlaw all pornography and imprison people who produce and distribute it.
Chinese Tech Mogul Held by Authorities Over Alleged Adult Content on Video Platform
Chen Shaojie, founder and CEO of DouYu — China’s leading video streaming platform — is being held by Chinese authorities over supposed “pornographic content” on the site.
Biblically Inspired Alabama Legislator to Introduce Copycat Anti-Porn Legislation
A religious conservative lawmaker in Alabama revealed Monday that she intends to introduce a copycat age verification bill as soon as the state legislature’s 2024 session begins.
Texas AG Ken Paxton Files Motion to Dismiss FSC Lawsuit Over Mandatory Labeling
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Wednesday filed a partial motion to dismiss the lawsuit by Free Speech Coalition (FSC) and other plaintiffs against the state’s controversial age verification law, which mandates that adult websites post anti-porn propaganda.
Ugandan Police Arrest 7 Women Suspected of Making Adult Content
Ugandan police this weekend arrested seven women suspected of producing adult content.
Bloomberg Law Report Links 'Addiction' Lawsuits Against Meta, Age Verification Battles
Bloomberg Law published a report on Thursday, linking the onslaught of federal and state lawsuits against Meta over the supposed addictive nature of Instagram and Facebook with the anti-porn “age verification” controversies around the country.