R-Utah Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill to criminalize pornography and define what is obscene and what is not.
Lee and R-ill. Lee and Rep. Mary Miller introduced the Interstate Definition of Obscene Act (IODA) for all states, which, if passed, would make it illegal to transmit obscene content across state lines and also easier to prosecute.
"Obscene is not protected by the First Amendment, but the hazy and inoperable legal definitions allow extreme pornography to saturate American society and attract countless children," Lee said in a press release. "Our bill updates the legal definition of obscene in the Internet era, so that these contents can be removed and prosecuted its hawkers."
The IODA attempts to shed light on the definition of obscene in all states and provide updated descriptions that fit modern content.
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R-Utah Senator Mike Lee introduced a bill to define “obscene.” (Rebecca Noble/Getty Image)
Specifically, the new definition eliminates the reliance of existing laws on changing and elusive public opinion and replaces obscene practical standards with practical standards.
Fox News Digital was unable to contact Lee and Miller for comment on its proposed bill.
The current legal definition of obscenity stems from the Supreme Court case in 1973, and the standards are subjective and vague, so it is difficult to apply to any material.
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Because pre-Internet standards are so vague, they often challenge in court when it comes to defining obscene content and ultimately allowing “criminals to evade prosecution,” the release said.
Lee's IODA defined "obscene" in the Communications Act of 1934 and "attracted important interests for nudity, sexuality or excrement".
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Porn logo on smartphone screen. (Nikolas Kokovlis/Nurphoto via Getty Images)
The bill also "describes, describes, or represents actual or simulated sexual behavior" and aims to "evoke, titrate or satisfy" a person's sexual desire. In addition, the bill determines obscene material as “a lack of serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value.”
The IODA also canceled the “intention” requirement, which only prohibits the dissemination of obscene material for the purpose of abuse, threatening or harassment of an individual.
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“The Interstate Definition of Obscene Act will enable law enforcement devices as the tools they need to target and remove obscene material from the internet, which is shockingly destructive and far beyond the boundaries of protected free speech under the Constitution,” Miller said.
“I’m honored to lead this effort in the House with Senator Lee to protect American families and to ensure that this dangerous material is placed in our homes and on our screens.”