I still know it when I see it, I guess.
VergeMAY 2
GOP Bill Seeks to Redefine Obscenity Under Federal Law
Above: Mike Lee during the Senate Hearings to examine security risks posed by foreign nationals on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Demetrius Freeman/Contributor/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
With kids today accessing explicit content younger than ever — often through smartphones and social media — the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act is a vital update for the internet age. The outdated Miller Test can't address today's 24/7 online porn flood. This bill gives law enforcement clear, modern tools to protect children, not censor adults, by stopping the cross-state spread of truly obscene content.
Democratic narrative
The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act is a dangerous overreach that threatens First Amendment protections and opens the door to censorship far beyond pornography. By redefining "obscenity" and gutting the Miller Test, this bill could criminalize LGBTQ+ content, sex education, and art. It's a puritanical crusade to impose far-right values online, forcing all Americans to live under one rigid, moralistic standard.