Project 2025, a conservative policy proposal developed by over 80 right-wing organizations, aims to reshape American society, including its approach to adult entertainment. The initiative includes plans to ban pornography, criminalize content creators, and implement stricter age and identity verification systems. Here's a summary of its potential impacts on the adult industry:
Ban on Pornography: Project 2025 seeks to outlaw pornography, arguing that it does not fall under First Amendment protections. The initiative's broad definition of "obscene" materials could also include LGBTQ+ content, leading to extensive censorship.
Criminalization of Content Creators: The proposal calls for imprisonment of individuals who produce or distribute adult content. This policy poses a significant legal risk for those involved in the adult entertainment industry, potentially forcing creators to go underground or cease operations entirely.
Invasive Verification Requirements: Stringent age and identity verification systems would be required to access adult content online, posing risks to privacy. These invasive measures may deter users from accessing legal adult content and create opportunities for data misuse or breaches.
Targeting LGBTQ+ Content: The broad and ambiguous language used in defining "obscene" materials could disproportionately impact LGBTQ+ content. Project 2025’s measures might censor educational, supportive, and lifestyle content related to non-heterosexual relationships, limiting visibility and resources for these communities.
Age-Check Laws as a 'Back Door' Ban: Age-check laws are designed to make it difficult for adult websites to operate, pushing them to withdraw from certain states or stop providing services. This approach has been characterized as a "back door" to effectively banning pornography nationwide.
In summary, Project 2025 presents a significant threat to the adult industry, targeting creators with criminal liability, infringing on privacy rights, and using vague definitions to expand censorship. These measures would profoundly impact adult content accessibility, especially for marginalized communities.
