The US may soon adopt new laws restricting online adult content after a bill proposed by Senator Mike Lee and Representative Mary Miller seeks to redefine ‘obscene’ material at the federal level. Similar to the UK’s recent Online Safety Act, these moves aim to make it harder for children to access explicit content, requiring age verification and broader control.
The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act would update the Miller Test’s second prong to include content that could harm minors, allowing more content to be classified as obscene. This includes materials that are sexually explicit with no serious artistic or scientific value.
Experts warn this could lead to a sweeping crackdown, targeting not only pornography but also borderline materials and free speech, including LGBTQ topics.
Mike Stabile of the Free Speech Coalition highlights how the UK’s strict regulations affected social platforms negatively, offering a cautionary tale. Professor Eric Goldman believes attempts to censor online content often provoke users to bypass restrictions, creating a cyclical challenge.
The adult entertainment industry’s adaptability means it can survive even hostile regulations by finding new distribution methods, Stabile notes.
These laws could drastically reshape online content availability, sparking debates over censorship and internet freedom.
