this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2025
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On Sept. 11, Michigan representatives proposed an internet content ban bill unlike any of the others we've seen: This particularly far-reaching legislation would ban not only many types of online content, but also the ability to legally use any VPN.

The bill, called the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act and advanced by six Republican representatives, would ban a wide variety of adult content online, ranging from ASMR and adult manga to AI content and any depiction of transgender people. It also seeks to ban all use of VPNs, foreign or US-produced.

Main issue I have with this article, and a lot of articles on this topic, is it doesn't address the issue of youth access to porn. I think any semi-intelligent person knows this is a parenting issue, but unfortunately that cat's out of the bag, thanks to the right. "Proliferation of porn" is the '90s crime scare (that never really died) all over again. If a politician or industry expert is speaking against bills like this, their talking points have to include:

  • Privacy-respecting alternatives that promise parents that their precious babies won't be able to access that horrible dangerous porn! (I don't argue that porn can't be dangerous, but this is yet another disingenuous right-wing culture (holy) war)
  • Addressing that vagueness in the bill sets up the government as morality police (it's right there in the title of the bill, FFS), and NOBODY in a "free" country should ever want that.
  • Stop saying it can be bypassed with technology. The VPN ban in this bill is a reaction to talking points like that.
  • Recognize and call out that this has nothing to do with protecting children and everything to do with a religious minority imposing its will on the rest of the country (plenty of recent examples to pull from here).

Unfortunately this is becoming enough of "A Thing" that the left is going to have to, once again, be seen doing "something" about it. So they have to thread a needle of "protecting kids," while respecting the privacy of their parents who want their kids protected and want to look at porn, and protecting businesses that require secure communications.

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[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 43 points 2 days ago (2 children)

NO VPN!

And the corporate world comes to a screeching halt.

These fuckwads don't even understand anything about what they're trying to legislate.

When shit starts being monitored, I want to see the legislators' traffic public first.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 13 points 1 day ago (2 children)

And the corporate world comes to a screeching halt.

In theory, businesses would be required to register their VPNs and... idk, this would limit access to them somehow?

Much like with the Assault Weapons Ban and the assorted online porn bans and strip club bans and dry counties and SEC rules on insider trading, etc, etc, etc a lot of this boils down to "how hard do you want to work in order to enforce this?"

And the short answer is "we only want an excuse to arrest people arbitrarily". So a VPN can quickly because a "everyone with an Internet connection is a criminal suspect". And then you just harass the people you want to harass under cover of "we thought you had kiddie porn" as an excuse

[–] chatokun@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

I once worked for a banking transaction company (or something like that, I did their network and telecom support, none of the actual business) and they had offices in Russia. I was told that since VPNs are more restricted there, but required for the business, they had to have a special application with the government to be allowed to have the site to site VPN work.

I imagine they'd try to do the same, as well as grant them another way to be in the pocket of or have some control over businesses. If the government has to approve your necessary security software, you'll want to stay on their good side.

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[–] Wizard_Pope@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

When shit starts being monitored, I want to see the legislators' traffic public first.

Oh my sweet summer child. Of course these laws won't apply to them.

[–] ArmchairAce1944@discuss.online 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

And if they do, they will make up shit to use the dirt you dug up against them against you.

Kind of like how when a cop shoots a black guy they look for whatever parking ticket they got 10 years prior as proof he is a cracking smoking cap busting gangsta who was itching for a bullet. Never being slightly concerned for the cop's violent history or misconduct in various police forces.

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[–] misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I just masturbated to these representatives. Legally that makes them pornography, and they are also required to be banned under this bill's provisions.

[–] papertowels@mander.xyz 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] vrighter@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 day ago

but your proudest

[–] misteloct@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

"Banning VPNs" has some real " I declare bankruptcy!" vibes.

Why not also ban cash? That can be used to evade detection as well and is notoriously used by criminals.

[–] aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

they kinda did in australia. If you want to withdraw more than $10K you need proof of what you're going to pay with it.

In Canada it is the same. And in Quebec carrying more than $3K Canadian is considered proof that you are up to no good and will get you arrested.

[–] Dragonstaff@leminal.space 12 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Corporate media's job is to manufacture consent. Please do not accept their spin uncritically.

This has nothing to do with kids or porn, those are always easy bells for censors to ring. It's about control and tracking. They want to be able to tie anonymous online activity to your real identity.

Politically, we really need to stop accepting their framing that they're trying to protect kids. These bills are only about collecting data.

[–] ChaoticEntropy@feddit.uk 7 points 1 day ago

"Corruption of public morals" is such a shameless name to put on a bill that simply tries to enforce your own morals.

[–] ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"If you removed all the porn from the internet you would be left with one website, titled "Bring Back the Porn""

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[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 171 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (36 children)

Banning VPNs would be an unmitigated disaster and anyone who suggests that it's a good idea has absolutely no idea what they're talking about and should never be allowed to make tech policy again because they are a massive idiot.

Businesses, institutions, and even the government itself all require the use of VPNs to remain secure. VPNs are vital to functioning IT infrastructure everywhere.

Additionally, such a move wouldn't even stop people from accessing porn (which isn't even what VPNs are for), all it would really do is break IT security everywhere.

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[–] DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works 40 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Bro can we not?

I thought I got lucky to be born into a family that was able to leave China, and I could browse the internet freely in the US. What the fuck y'all? Just let me have my unlimited access to entertainment in peace mmkay?

So... fucking... cooked...

Blatent First Amendment violation.

I mean what even is gonna be the difference between fucking CCP and this BS.

(Canadaaa plssss lemmme innn? 🥺👉👈❓️
Australia? 👀)

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[–] figjam@midwest.social 36 points 2 days ago (7 children)

All vpns including ones for work? Not a snowballs chance in hell

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[–] Boozilla@lemmy.world 184 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Considering how many people need to use VPNs to telecommute, this seems like it would be a non-starter. But you can't discount the sheer stupidity and hubris of Republicans these days.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 80 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Many countries are trying to figure out how to ban VPNs. I expect it will end up with big corporations and rich people being able to ~~pay a bribe~~ buy a licence to use encryption and VPNs, while ordinary people will not be able to afford it. Or they will just require ISPs to block suspected VPN traffic from home connections. If people find workarounds it's still a pretext to arrest anyone inconvenient to the government and ban them from using the internet to organize.

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[–] DupaCycki@lemmy.world 13 points 2 days ago (5 children)

It seems quite obvious to me that this will, in fact, not work. I'd even argue that nobody wants it to work. Only to introduce a law that a lot of people will break at some point, to have an excuse to target them later in the future if the need arises.

No project like this will produce any significant results in any western country. It's simply impossible to implement without full supervision and control over the entire Internet. China was able to block all online porn due to having such infrastructure. And that was possible due to a vastly different culture. We don't.

In general, the issue of widespread pornography is very analogous to climate change. We've been warned about this for decades, and yet, have done nothing to prevent it. All we can, and in my opinion should be doing, is limiting its presence in our societies, especially in the context of children. This would no doubt involve online ID verification at some stage, though that can be done with respect towards privacy.

The bill, called the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act and advanced by six Republican representatives, would ban a wide variety of adult content online, ranging from ASMR and adult manga to AI content and any depiction of transgender people.

Also, what's up with targetting ASMR? It has no inherent relation to adult content. The transgender people part isn't surprising and we know where that's coming from.

[–] Olgratin_Magmatoe@slrpnk.net 11 points 2 days ago (4 children)

This would no doubt involve online ID verification at some stage, though that can be done with respect towards privacy.

No it can't. Data can be de-anonymized.

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[–] frezik@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

This would no doubt involve online ID verification at some stage, though that can be done with respect towards privacy.

This is exactly what the UK has attempted. It doesn't work, either.

Porn is here to stay. "Children" covers a wide range of ages, and exposure to sex of some kind is not the debilitating thing it's made out to be. The approach should be to contextualize it and educate about it.

[–] Holytimes@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago

Humans reach sexual maturity as young as like 8 years of age in rare circumstances. Trying to act like humans arnt just fucking animals is bafflingly stupid.

You can't fucking hide humanity from humans. You want to prevent stupid kids from making more kids before they are ready? Or prevent them from easily being taken advantage of sexually?

TEACH THEM WHAT SEX IS, AND BE AS BLANTENT AS POSSIBLE.

The only thing that prevents people from doing something stupid is education and support . The only thing that stops people from letting others take advantage of them is education and support.

If you don't educate your fucked up on bother counts. If you don't support them you fucked up on both counts.

Pussy footing around, using complicated metaphors and flowery language does nothing but confuse children most of the time.

Kids are smart, give them the basic ass facts and they will understand.

Hell even teaching abstinence wouldn't be so God damn fucking problematic if it wasn't so wrapped up in religious bullshit to go along with it.

Just telling your kid what sex is, what porn is, that it's risky and shouldn't be done till they are older. But should it happen use a condom and talk to their parents about it. Would solve so many god damn fucking problems.

FOR THE LOVE OF EVERYTHING PLEASE JUST TALK TO YOUR KIDS AND BE UPFRONT.

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[–] fxleak@lemmings.world 39 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Can we get a list of the names of the representatives supporting this?

Any other identifiable information would be great as well.

Fuck this social contract.

[–] turdburglar@piefed.social 22 points 2 days ago

how about their browsing histories?

[–] Rooty@lemmy.world 11 points 2 days ago

What, and violate their privacy? Know your place peasant. /s

[–] jjjalljs@ttrpg.network 41 points 2 days ago (6 children)

is it doesn’t address the issue of youth access to porn. I think any semi-intelligent person knows this is a parenting issue

There sure are a lot of stupid fucking people then, huh?

Unfortunately this is becoming enough of “A Thing” that the left is going to have to, once again, be seen doing “something”

Personally I think the left should hammer in on "The right are too lazy and incompetent to raise their kids. They want the government to do it for them. No one who's too unwilling or unable to spend time with their kids should be in government" or something like that. Just rub their noses in how stupid, lazy, and incompetent, the right is. Because they are. They are the worst people.

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[–] Lushed_Lungfish@lemmy.ca 26 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Will it ban their Grindr access though?

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[–] pyre@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

surely Michigan has no one who works over the internet

[–] plyth@feddit.org 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This is a test balloon. One state is needed to overcome all the technical hurdles like clearing VPNs for work. Once that is done it will be roled out everywhere.

Without ruling out VPNs, all the other internet laws don't make sense. So this step is necessary and almost inevitable.

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[–] Newsteinleo@midwest.social 10 points 2 days ago

The news on this has been underplaying how bad this bill is. It requires ISPs to inspect traffic to ensure its no porn, meaning they would have to be able to decrypt the traffic. This makes a single point were hackers can access credit card data, personal information, and anything else you don't want to share with the world. This assumes the ISPs are willing to front the compute cost of decrypting then re-encrypting and not just banning encrypted traffic because its the easy and cheap way.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 52 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Um, how the actual fuck are businesses supposed to operate where some regressive dumbfucks have outlawed VPNs?

Also, never underestimate the ability of a set of dumbasses doing some damage to this country - for one thing, see the asshole in the WH right now doing all kinds of self-owns to this country.

Secondly, I'm old enough to remember things like the V-chip and the Clipper chip and the government going after Phil Zimmerman. All of these things were rather stupid. And that was during the Clinton administration, which, sure, they were right-leaning as well....were not fucking crazy right wing.

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[–] vane@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Don't forget to ban renting servers, vps and cloud services by individuals.

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[–] eugenevdebs@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The rule of headlines is that if it asks a question in the title, the answer is assumed to be no.

No, it won't.

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