Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan

[Nevilledog]

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Igor Bobic
@igorbobic
Well, uh, I’m sorry but I have no choice but to ask the two Utah senators about this now

Michelle L. Price
@michellelprice
Utah's Legislature passed a bill requiring all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography. Supporters say it's critical to help protect children: https://apnews.com/article/legislature-utah-coronavirus-pandemic-pornography-laws-d2f3911b7887f2f145918d1718bf2504…
2:02 PM · Mar 16, 2021

https://apnews.com/article/legislature-utah-coronavirus-pandemic-pornography-laws-d2f3911b7887f2f145918d1718bf2504

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography in a plan that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech.

Supporters and critics alike are now waiting to find out if new Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, will sign or veto a proposa l that the GOP-controlled Legislature passed this month.

Cox hasn’t indicated publicly which way he’s leaning. His spokeswoman, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, said only in an email that Cox “will carefully consider this bill during the bill signing period.” He has until March 25 to decide.

Supporters argue the restriction is a critical step to help parents keep explicit content away from kids — especially as more children have their own electronic devices and have been forced to spend more time online during the pandemic.

Combating porn is a perennial issue for Utah lawmakers who have previously mandated warning labels on print and online pornography and declared porn a “public health crisis.”

Utah’s generally conservative culture means racy mainstream magazines and lingerie catalogs can be considered risqué. Leaders of the predominant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints faith have also drawn attention to what they consider the harms of pornography.

*snip*

[brooklynite]

1. If I recall, Utah Mormons are some of the largest porn consumers.

[Oneironaut]

2. I'm anti-porn / think it's harmful, but...

The people in this campaign are probably its biggest users.

[TlalocW]

3. Utah doesn't have the best record against fighting porn

TlalocW

[FreeState]

4. Mormonism has a porn problem

Have an issue with church history? Your bishop will ask you if you have a porn problem. Having issues with your spouse? You must have a porn problem. Don’t want to clean the church for free this Saturday? You must have a porn problem.

[marmar]

5. Next up, no more public dancing.