Republican Mike Lee seeks to redefine ‘obscenity’ in order to empower prosecutors to punish those who make and distribute ‘extreme’ content online
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Representative Mary Miller (R-IL) have introduced the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA), a bill aiming to criminalize pornography by overhauling the legal definition of “obscenity.”
The legislation, aligned with Trump-era conservative agendas, would classify content as obscene if it “appeals to prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion” and lacks “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value” .
Lee argued the current “hazy” standards allow pornography to “saturate society” and reach children, calling the bill a necessary update for the digital age.
Critics warn the broad language could vast swaths of adult content, including mainstream entertainment and educational materials.
First Amendment advocates contend the bill risks chilling protected speech, as it removes the “intent” requirement and community standards from existing obscenity tests .
Civil liberties groups liken it to Project 2025‘s goal of outlawing pornography, with potential ramifications for LGBTQ+ and reproductive health resources .
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