War On Porn
Louisiana State Senator Trying to Ban Viewing Porn in Universities
Louisiana State Senator Beth Mizell (R-Franklinton) has proposed a new state law requiring the censorship of “pornography or sexually explicit content” on the personal phones or computers of students, professors and staff while connected to a public university’s Wi-Fi network or internet service.
German ISPs Exploring Legal Challenge to Government Order to Block xHamster
Hours after the German government ordered the country’s major internet service providers to block xHamster, one of the ISPs, PŸUR, told a digital rights group that it reserves the right “to have the decision legally reviewed by an independent court with a view to the legal regulations of net neutrality.”
German Government Orders ISPs to Block xHamster
Germany’s Commission for Youth Media Protection decided unanimously on Thursday to impose a network ban on xHamster.
Plaintiffs Urge Judge to Strip Reddit of Section 230 Protections Over UGC
A proposed class of plaintiffs currently appealing a dismissed lawsuit against Reddit, alleging that the platform “knowingly benefits from lax enforcement of its content polices, including for child pornography," filed an opening appellate brief this week renewing their claim that Section 230 protections should not shield the social media platform.
Utah Legislator Drafts Bill to Censor Books in Schools, Alleging 'Pornography'
A Utah state representative has authored a bill to explicitly ban what he considers “pornographic and indecent books” in the state’s public schools.
Washington Post Publishes Warning About Current 'War on Porn'
The Washington Post published an opinion piece yesterday offering a cautionary historical perspective on how anti-pornography crusades like the current War on Porn end up harming marginalized groups like sex workers and the LGBTQ+ community.
Saudi Arabia Funds Initiative Against 'Porn Addiction'
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched a new website as part of a government public health initiative known as “Effah,” which claims to help people “get rid of pornography addiction” in 100 days.
Senator Blackburn Highlights Anti-Porn Lobby NCOSE as EARN IT Backer
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) issued a statement this week listing NCOSE — formerly Morality in Media — among supporters of the controversial EARN IT Act, which has been overwhelmingly condemned by leading digital rights and free speech organizations, including Free Speech Coalition.
New York Times Writer Calls for a Return to Pre-1960s 'Hypocrisy' About Porn
The New York Times published an opinion piece yesterday by staff columnist Ross Douthat advocating for a return to pre-1960s “inconsistencies and hypocrisies” about several social issues, including sexual expression.
Under Pressure From German Government, Twitter Begins Blocking Adult Content
Confirming the fears of sex workers and advocates around the world, Twitter has reportedly begun blocking German profiles that include adult content, after a local government official escalated a campaign to force the platform to implement age verification systems designed for “pornographic websites.”
UK Ministers Confirm New Age Verification Rules Target Twitter, Reddit
U.K. government officials confirmed last week that social media sites “hosting large amounts of pornographic material, such as Twitter and Reddit” would have to “introduce systems to remove adult material in the U.K., or introduce age checks to determine whether users are over 18,” The Guardian reported yesterday.
FSC Spells Out Staunch Opposition to Controversial EARN IT Act
Free Speech Coalition issued a statement today explaining in detail why it opposes the controversial EARN IT Act, and also an explainer clarifying the implications of the widely condemned legislation.
Arizona Republicans Help Defeat Copycat 'Mandatory Porn Filter' Bill
Republican legislators in the Arizona House broke ranks with a fellow GOP representative on Wednesday and helped reject her copycat proposal to implement default “porn filters” on phones and computers sold in the state.
Senators Rush EARN IT Act Through Committee as Controversy Mounts
The controversial EARN IT Act, a proposed overhaul of internet rules that digital rights groups and sex worker advocates have overwhelmingly denounced as a threat to free speech, unanimously passed through the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning and is moving forward towards a Senate vote.
FSC Urges Industry Action to Defeat EARN IT Act
Free Speech Coalition has issued a call to action urging industry members to contact their senators and ask them to oppose the EARN IT Act.
Alabama Federal Judge Denies Section 230 Immunity to MindGeek, Claims Pornhub Is a Publisher
An Alabama federal judge today shut down MindGeek’s petition to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by Jane Does over content posted on Pornhub that allegedly depicts instances of their human trafficking, claiming that Section 230 protections over third-party content do not apply because the company exercised “extensive control over the development of pornographic content on their websites.”
Influential Anti-Porn Lobby NCOSE Endorses EARN IT Act
The leading anti-porn crusading group in the U.S., the religiously inspired NCOSE, has re-endorsed the EARN IT Act after its reintroduction by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Connecticut) in late January.
Australian Top Censor Moving Forward With Controversial Age Verification Scheme
Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, who has acknowledged having conversations with the U.S.-based, religiously-inspired anti-porn lobby NCOSE, is now “developing a roadmap to implement age verification for online pornographic sites.”
German Police Find Old Adult Magazines in a Ditch, Claim Criminal 'Distribution of Pornography'
Police in Bavaria, Germany are seeking information on a pile of 1990s porn magazines found in a ditch on the side of a road, so that they can charge whoever disposed of the magazines with criminal “distribution of pornography.”
Leading Digital Rights Group Urges Action Against EARN IT Act
Leading digital rights organization Electronic Frontier Foundation has issued a statement urging immediate action to defeat the revived EARN IT Act, which privacy and sex workers' rights advocates have unanimously identified as a serious censorship threat.