Senator Mike Lee Proposes New Bill To Redefine ‘Obscenity’ and Condemn the Online Porn Industry
By Movieguide® Staff
Utah Sen. Mike Lee’s recent bill proposal could be a major victory in protecting minors from online abuse and sexual exploitation at the hands of the porn industry.
Last week, Lee proposed the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, legislation that would redefine what constitutes obscene across the US.
Lee’s press release reads:
Obscenity is not protected under the First Amendment and is prohibited from interstate or foreign transmission. The Supreme Court, however, has struggled to define obscenity, and its current definition under the “Miller Test” runs into serious challenges when applied to the internet.
Sen. Lee’s bill would define “obscenity” within the Communications Act of 1934. Additionally, it would also strengthen the existing prohibition on obscenity by removing the “intent” requirement that only prohibits the transmission of obscenity to abuse, threatens, or harassing a person.
Currently, courtrooms apply the “Miller Test,” which defines obscenity as anything that “appeals to the prurient interest… depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law… and lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”
The IODA would redefine “obscenity to cover all content that “appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion, depicts, describes, or represents actual or simulated sexual acts with the objective intent to arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual desires of a person, and, … lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.”
If passed, the bill could crumble the online porn industry, as it’s content would no longer be protected under the first amendment.
This is yet another development in legislator’s fight to protect minors from sexual exploitation online.
Movieguide® previously reported:
As online playgrounds become more hostile and accessible, child safety is a growing concern among parents.
Nic Wetton, a JH Godwin Primary School teacher, points out that just because children are quiet and locked into what is on their screens does not mean they are safe.
“Parents think a child is safe because when they’re online they’re quiet, but they don’t know what they’re watching,” Wetton told BBC News. “Children can be traumatised by horrific videos they see online.”
Movieguide® previously reported on the pervasive immoral content found on the world’s most popular social media sites, like TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Not only is sexual, violent content available on these platforms, but it is also promoted—putting young, innocent minds in the firing line of the edgiest content media has to offer.
According to Wetton, what children view online negatively affects their performance in school and other areas of life, such as sleep.
Rachel O’Connell, the founder of TrustElevate, investigated online child abuse and seeks to hold both tech companies and abusers responsible.
O’Connell also wants to help parents understand what exactly their children are being fed through social media and other media.
“Putting naked selfies online seems to be a rite of passage now,” O’Connell notes. “Parents feel they don’t know how to ‘digitally’ parent, they can feel helpless. We need oversight.”
Through her Zero Data principle, O’Connell hopes to create a family access app that deters possible pedophiles through parental controls and screening while keeping the children’s data secure.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
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Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
