Although "make all speech technically illegal, only prosecute where convenient" has been historically authoritarians' usual next step.
I get people who are against porn. I see their arguments, where they are coming from. But at the same time, it seems that for so many of them, my first paragraph applies.
So if "obscene" material is already prohibited, online pornography is already illegal. Whatever you consider the definition of "obscene", I'm pretty sure you can find major online outlets that produce, sell and monetize this content. So is it just an enforcement thing that the federal government allows all this stuff to exist? This stuff is all a federal crime already, why bother with moving the definition slightly?
Some of us haven't forgotten the days of overzealous Christian mothers getting products banned off store shelves, before it swung to far-left activists doing similar for digital creators/services, to now where the pendulum appears to be swinging back to the right-wing as the proponents of censorship.
In addition to the obvious First Amendment concerns, this bill would run up hard against the bro caucus of the Trump coalition. Do we think Elon Musk and Joe Rogan are going to spend their resources on a federal porn ban bill? Are Libertarians likely to support this? Will it get 60 votes in the Senate? Etc.
All that guarantees freedom in the new system is adequate measures of compliance and capital. For all others, name the person, and the machine will autonomously identify a thought crime.
The best part about rolling back free speech protections is that the internet is full of evidence for ex post facto indictment. Enemies of the state have been openly parading their dissent. For those who recognize this, speech is already chilling fast.
Look mom! I’m in a hearing for a passive aggressive internet post :D
Even if software is using servers?
We would see companies reshore at the very worst. I and many others would set up new sites specifically to violate the law for funzies.
Evidence: the last 4 months in America
The internet conveniently allows circumvention of laws without much personal exposure.
Our society today is not that of the excited 90s where everyone was excited and learning. They don't try AT ALL, and while you and I may never lose access, as far as they're concerned it would be gone
Many would also rightfully fear legal retaliation, as it's easy to expose yourself when you don't know what you're doing
seems a bit unlikely to pass.
sudoaptinstall•9mo ago