U.S. Bill Seeks To Make All Pornography A Federal Offense

Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah has reintroduced a bill that would criminalize pornography at the federal level.

The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA), backed by Representative Mary Miller of Illinois, aims to redefine what counts as “obscene” under U.S. law, removing current protections that have allowed adult content online.

“Obscenity isn’t protected by the First Amendment,” Lee said in a press release, “but hazy and unenforceable legal definitions have allowed extreme pornography to saturate American society and reach countless children.”

404 Media explains that the bill changes the way courts define obscenity, replacing the long-standing Miller Test—a three-part standard set in 1973.

Instead, it proposes a new definition for the internet era, where any content that “appeals to the prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion” and “depicts, describes or represents actual or simulated sexual acts with the objective intent to arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual desires of a person’’

Critically, IODA removes the current law’s requirement that obscene content must be shared to “abuse, threaten, or harass.” This would mean that simply posting sexual content online for arousal could be a federal crime.

Supporters argue this helps law enforcement crack down on harmful material. “The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act equips law enforcement with the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet,” said Miller. “I’m proud to lead this effort […] to safeguard American families.”

404 Media notes that is Lee’s third attempt to pass the bill, following failed efforts in 2022 and 2024. Its reappearance comes amid rising political pressure from conservative groups like Project 2025, which seeks to eliminate porn entirely, something sex workers and free speech advocates have warned against for years.