Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation that seeks to redefine obscenity to make it illegal to distribute or consume pornography, regardless of the material’s intent.
The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced May 8 by Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, would redefine “obscenity” within the Communications Act of 1934 as content that taken as a whole, 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 taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
It also would remove the “intent” requirement that only outlaws the transmission of obscenity for the purpose of abusing, threatening, or harassing a person.
Read more at Newsmax© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.