Michigan Lawmakers Propose Bill to Ban Online Pornography and Restrict VPNs

A bill introduced in the Michigan state legislature aims to prohibit the distribution of online pornography and restrict the use of virtual private networks (VPNs). The proposed legislation, known as the “Anticorruption of Public Morals Act,” would ban all pornographic materials on the internet, including those generated by artificial intelligence (AI). To prevent circumvention, internet service providers would be required to monitor and block known circumvention tools such as VPNs and proxy servers.

Currently, there are no federal or state laws in the US that restrict the use of VPNs or ban adult pornography outright. Some states have implemented measures such as age verification, obscenity laws, and filtering to limit access to explicit content. If the bill becomes law, violations could result in fines of up to $500,000 and/or up to 25 years in prison.

The legislation also includes a provision that would ban content where individuals represent themselves as being of a different biological sex. This move comes amid a trend of proposed and enacted laws in other US states that limit or prohibit discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, libraries, and public events.

In recent years, the US has seen a shift in policies related to LGBTQ+ rights, with the current administration moving to roll back pro-LGBTQ+ policies and strip federal recognition of gender identities beyond male and female. Michigan, a swing state with a divided legislature, has recently seen a series of high-profile cases involving sexual abuse of minors and child pornography.

The proposed bill has significant implications for online freedom and censorship in the US. As the Michigan legislature considers the bill, it remains to be seen whether it will become law and what impact it will have on the state’s residents and the wider online community. The bill’s fate will likely be closely watched by civil liberties groups, tech companies, and lawmakers across the US.