Illinois Rep Sponsors Bill That Could Criminalize Pornography

A new bill that was recently introduced by a Republican Senator from Utah that could make pornography a crime across the entire United States has just received and endorsement from a Republican Representative from Illinois.

Per WGN, The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act, introduced by Utah Senator Mike Lee, would add all pornography, including any depiction of sexual acts that "lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value" to the definition of obscenity. Therein, it would become illegal to distribute or consume porn in any form.

READ MORE: Could Prostitution Soon Be Legal in Illinois?

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What is the Definition of "Obscenity?:"

At present, only porn intended to "abuse, threaten, or harass" someone is legal, per WGN. That is commonly known as "revenge porn," and President Donald Trump actually signed into law a bill that would criminalize "deepfake" and revenge porn this week.

Illinois Rep. Mary Miller, who sponsored the bill, explained that, if signed into law, it would "equip law enforcement with the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet." She went on to say such content is "far outside the bounds of protected speech under the Constitution."

The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act would define obscenity as:

• Appeals to an excessive amount of interest in nudity or sex
• Shows or describes real or fake sexual acts
• Lacks scientific, political, artistic or literary value

The Bill's Definition Still Creates Confusion and Cannot Be Viewed Objectively:

At its core, the bill would radically widen the scope of obscenity previously defined in such famous Supreme Court cases as Jacobellis v. Ohio and Miller v. California.

Thomas C. Arthur of Emory University of School of Law wrote in the Emory Law Journal the problems that could arise from the bill, should it pass:

“First, ‘obscene’ pornography is difficult, if not impossible, to define satisfactorily under basic First Amendment principles … The current definition does not come close to reaching the materials that allegedly corrupt the moral tone of society, the health of relationships and family life, and the status of women - Thomas C. Arthur, per Emory Law Journal

Senator Lee says that the bill intends to update the legal definition of obscenity for the internet age so that content, such as "extreme pornography," can be removed in order to protect children.

Banning Pornography was Included in Project 2025:

A law of this magnitude was famously included in Project 2025, a conservative policy plan that was authored in lieu of Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. The 900-page plan wasn't ambiguous in regards to the topic. It plainly stated that "pornography should be outlawed," and "the people who produce and distribute it should be imprisoned."

All the While Prostitution Could Eventually Become Legal in Illinois:

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Back in February, Illinois State Senator Celina Villanueva and State Representative Will Guzzardi introduced legislation that would decriminalize prostitution in the Land of Lincoln. The bill was even backed by Reyna Ortiz, a former prostitute, who serves as a board member on Equality Illinois and is chair of the Sex Worker Advisory Group (SWAG).

The bill would effectively remove criminal penalties for legal adults engaged in consensual paid sex. It would also clear arrest and conviction records for prostitutes, as well as establish a sex workers' bill of rights. Ortiz added that, in essence, prostitution is a transactional agreement at its core.

Read more about The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act on WGN's website.