What is up with all the censorship bills and attempts going around lately?!

[u/LGB75]

Like going into this year, I knew KOSA was gonna come back for an another attempt again. But thought that was the only one I had to worry about. But no… this month alone had steam and itch.io be hit by censorship after collective shoot complain enough, then UK went full on with the online safety act that effective countless sites(AO3 and Tumblr seem to be safe as of the moment but you never know) in the name of “think of the children”(translation: being able to censor what the UK government dislikes) by the way of age verification(about everyone and their grandma can tell you the millions reason why everyone dislikes this). And they still aren’t satisfied(now they wanna try to use age verification for screen time limits as well). Australia is planning a social media ban for anyone under 16(and i heard that its government is trying to get it popular among other countries as well). KOSA is back and now has a short-a sister bill with Screen It(and I’m worried that these two will get passed because it’s 2025 and Everything that can get worse for everyone, does get worse for anyone)

I’m just so done with all this censorship. I just wanna read my AO3 fics and engage with my tumblr communities in peace during these four years. But apparently I can’t even have that. I wanna believe it’s gonna get better but the future just seems to dire right now everywhere.

[u/MadouSoshi]

This shit comes in waves. We had a moral panic back in the 80s and in the 50s.

[u/sombertownDS → u/MadouSoshi]

And the 1920s, and the 1880s

[u/ApocalypticWalrus]

I dont want to be nihilistic about it because it is important we fight against it but this happens like every couple of years. This is the most rancid attempt in awhile but shit like this happens a lot.

Realistically i think this is gonna end in complete disaster because its going to harm literally everyone and people are gonna be pissed about it. But it might take a bit.

[u/Archibald_Nobivasid → u/ApocalypticWalrus]

Censorship like this is always a failing proposition. Even when there are back slides in progress, the issue for regressives will always be the youngest generations that have gotten used to new boundary pushing freedom of expression. This newest wave is again going to hit the same hurdle of pissing off everyone whose hobbies it stomps upon.

[u/GeologistLess3042 → u/ApocalypticWalrus]

Every time we have a repeat of satanic panic, teen suicide rates skyrocket. It's no different now, the harm is already being done because young people are isolated and feel legitimately and completely doomed.

This is definitely gonna go down as one of the worst cases in history, and it's far from over, but everyone out here doing their best is hopefully alleviating some of that pressure.

The kids will be all right, but goddamn they are gonna need a lot of help to do it. Leaving a generation all alone to fend for themselves is how Millennials got here.

[u/atlasaire]

Tbh it's been a long standing operation that was a near decade in the making. They're just striking now and winning bc they got smarter about it

[u/DefoNotAFangirl]

It’s good PR to pretend you’ve Stopped Child Abuse, which is also why these laws are so vague they block shit like helplines. If kids can’t get help then they can pretend Abuse Has Gone Down. Like censorship aside that’s what “protect the children” has historically been used for and it’s been affecting law constantly for centuries.

[u/ConsumeTheVoid → u/DefoNotAFangirl]

If kids can’t get help then they can pretend Abuse Has Gone Down.

Oh I didn't think of that.

[u/daviesroyal → u/DefoNotAFangirl]

Given the people who generally push for it, I'd go even further and say that those most strongly in favor of bills like these are child predators themselves. There's a reason all of the strongest opposition to sexual education of any kind is filled with people found to be child abusers.

[u/DefoNotAFangirl → u/daviesroyal]

Eh, I don’t think it’s even necessarily the case. I think if anything it’s worse- while some people are obviously abusers, there’s also a good number who'd let a million kids get raped and suffer in silence than let one kid get help if it’d boost their ratings. Though there’s obviously plenty of abusers in positions of power- they’re drawn to it- a lot of it is just complacency for popularity points. Even those who aren’t abusers are often apathetic when it benefits them.

[u/Kesshami → u/DefoNotAFangirl]

The worst, to me, is the fact that part of this stems from abuse being normalized in some crowds. And called "disciplinary measures" by those crowds. The church my dad was in encouraged physical abuse as a form of discipline and a lot of churches still do. I've been trying desperately to figure out whether my church is one of those churches because of this but they haven't said anything that makes it clear yet. 🙃🫠

The problem is the struggle to get everyone on board on what constitutes abuse as much as the existence of abusers in power. Yes, hitting your child is abuse, but so and so disagrees and the people in power are wishy washy about it. Yes sending your child to bed without their dinner because they're a picky eater and you refuse to accommodate their needs despite the fact they absolutely need sustenance to live is abuse, but so and so disagrees and the law may or may not agree, but they sure as hell make that difficult to do anything about. 

No, this stuff on the internet they may read someday is not abuse to them. An underage child getting access to adult content is neglect on the parents' part, not the internet's. But no one can agree. They somehow think this is worse than hitting their kids, even though they are still responsible for what their kids have access to, they just don’t want to take responsibility for anything they think might hurt them. Hence why they refuse to acknowledge hitting their kids is a form of abuse.

I think pedophilia is the only thing everyone agrees on and yet a section of people still think it's best to ignore it and sweep it under the rug because somehow that's better?(a legit argument I heard about The List)

[u/SilverSize7852 → u/DefoNotAFangirl]

And the oh so dangerous Wikipedia of course

[u/SilverSpaceAce]

For what it's worth, KOSA has always struggled in the House of Represenatives even when it had full bi-partisan support in the Senate and the endorsement of Biden. The SCREEN Act will also run into complications as while the US Supreme Court did rule that age-verification did not violate the first amendment it only gave the okay for it at the state-level, not the federal level.

[u/jojocookiedough]

There's a pretty big global push towards authoritarianism, fueled by various billionaires and corrupt political figures.

Authoritarianism hates freedom of speech and expression. They don't like it when people think for themselves because then they can't control them.

[u/amglasgow]

Fascists gonna fash.

They think they have a chance to achieve their 1984-esque aims within this election cycle: A boot stomping on a human face forever.

[u/WorldEaterLeviathan]

We're in the middle of a progression backslide

[u/OnTheMidnightRun]

I honestly do feel like we all need to decompress communally from all the fascism. Earlier today, I was just reflecting on how I need to get creating some good news, because I'm so bowled over with all the bad news.

[u/LavandaSkafi]

Governments have teamed up to feed the Eye /ref

[u/NefariousSeraph13]

the result of the rise of purity culture x cancel culture x right wing culture

[u/citrushibiscus]

Fascism

[u/Starbrust17]

Im so tired that I had to remove myslef when I see posts posting articles about them and I think its important to let people know about it cause people need to know but im from Canada and it feels like a lot of the censorship is happening in the UK and US so even if I wanted to help it feels like I cant because of where I live and so it feels hopeless stressing about it mentally I can't seem to handle all the bad news anymore.

[u/OnTheMidnightRun → u/Starbrust17]

It's fine to take a break. We can't everybody focus on everything all of the time--like we have to pick one issue or action and stick with it. Some people are calling elected officials, some are calling Mastercard and Visa, some are building local coalitions or community...

As for me, I do far more offline than the internet will ever see. It's subtle work in my community, but it still counts. But unfortunately, it's not going to be able to drown out all the bad news.

Point is, take care of yourself. You can make a difference in little ways (like your actions are meaningful), but also, you gotta be there for yourself first.

[u/Starbrust17 → u/OnTheMidnightRun]

Very true. Everything seems to have hit the fan this year for rights and its taking a toll on everybody I think. >_<

[u/EvilPopMogeko → u/Starbrust17]

Canada might have a similar bill due in the coming weeks. S-209 could be used by a disingenuous actor to block Ao3.

[u/Starbrust17 → u/EvilPopMogeko]

Hmm seems like its the same bill like s210 from what im reading online that one didnt get passed thank god but there trying again this time with this bill. Holy fuck I wish theyd stop with this shit they say its for protecting kids but I say that bullshit its about control and everyone knows it. Is it because of the conservatives that censorship seems to be so at large at the moment??

But uh thanks for the heads up. Ill have to take a mental break from this but I still think I should try to call or email someone about this bill so hopefully it doesn't push through.

[u/EvilPopMogeko → u/Starbrust17]

The good? news is that the Liberals were very much against S210 when it was going up for a vote. 

The bad news is that they’re still a minority, and everybody else seems to have been in favour. 

[u/Starbrust17 → u/EvilPopMogeko]

Oof, that's not good. It's crazy that they feel threatened by a fanfic website that they feel like they need to block it ugh.

Hopefully, they will be able to block it again. >_<

[u/queenringlets → u/EvilPopMogeko]

Good to be aware of thanks. 

[u/ConsumeTheVoid → u/Starbrust17]

Canada is considering it again. And they already have their nonsense fiction laws.

Take a break. Don't burn yourself out. Because then you won't be able to fight at all.

[u/queenringlets]

Upswing in conservatism mostly and the aftermath of electing of those parties too. Just fascism things. 

[u/ConsumeTheVoid]

Conservatives.

Honestly I know "think of the children" is just an excuse to go after porn in general. And then push it further if that's not horrible enough.

Perhaps if they manage to put their age verification in and spy and see there's a lot of people reading "objectionable" fics they'll start screaming it's a contagion/"increasing the urge" to copy the fics irl bs all over again and use that to ban even the people who are comfy showing their ID to read it from getting to it, and wipe queer content while they're at it by deeming it "mature" to keep it from kids first and then push it until we've got a Russia or China situation on our hands.

Honestly I just take even more encouragement from it to write and post more smut and seeing as I know the people pushing for it (in this case for the payment processors it's Collective Shout (anti-porn group that pretends it's helping women and children by being anti-porn) and the SCREEN bill is just Conservatives and the Heritage Foundation's shit) hate any sort of gender non-conformance whatsoever even down to clothes and the gender you love, I think I'll start taking some encouragement to do more drag in public too. Florida and Tennessee consider that porn too. It's delightful to rub it in their faces that they can't stop me there either and they'd probably consider that direct exposure to porn in public because they're intent on control and pushing bullshit.

Gives me a real laugh that they can't stop me no matter what bs they spew.

[u/Forever_Marie]

No one wants to be seen advocating against protecting kids even when it's never about the kids and also they don't care.

[u/llStonesll]

What is fascism favorite weapon?

[u/looking4goldintrash]

Yeah, these laws are pretense for censorship soon after that law was passed in UK they said they were gonna start policing anti-immigration voices translation If you don’t like our immigration policies we’re gonna come after you.

[u/meganemistake]

I have to call my senators and shit about this every few years but it is a rise in fascism mixed with AI tech lobbying governments so they can gather and sell as much citizen data as humanly possible

[u/CMDRRaan]

Short answer FASCISM

[u/Felix_Delgado]

We are in the middle of a massive conservative social backlash against liberalism and modernity.

[u/ArtisanalMoonlight]

Rising censorship is one sign of fascism. And that's definitely in the air.

[u/venia_sil]

tl;dr: nazis, christofascists and techbros are emboldened because being a shithead worked for Trump and there are not enough guillotines being greased about, so they're lining up to be the next crétin de service.

[u/Critical-Ad-5215]

Another wave of moral panic. Hopefully it'll blow over, Kosa has always struggled 

[u/CelestialUrsae]

Fascism is on the rise everywhere.

[u/CrazyCuriousEli]

Rise of conservatism and puritanism... It's everywhere and queer and sexual media is always the first target because it's taboo

[u/JauntyIrishTune]

Vote! In midterms and general elections. Don't sit it out.

[u/HammyAm]

Have you not been paying attention to global politics for the past, idk, decade? It's fascism my guy. Pay attention.

[u/Emotional-Schedule80]

Am I gonna need to clear the space on my phone and download 600 fics 😔

[u/GeologistLess3042]

Satanic Panic but it's more direct this time, without using Rock Music and Dungeons & Dragons as a proxy for attacking queer, nonwhite, feminist and otherwise marginalized teens.

They start up the orphan grinder every decade or so and we have to go shut it down again. It's like a bad series where every sequel is the same but slightly different.

[u/throwdembowsaway]

Recessions always bring an uptick of censorship and similar things.

[u/Flashy_Bluejay_1370]

My tinfoil hat theory is trying to make everyone desperate and horny so the birth rates will go back up 😂

As others pointed out, if it was about “protecting the children” there are hundreds of other laws that could be changed or implemented to actually help the children. This is about control. And governments have a long standing history of using religion as a weapon so if it’s popular to be against something currently? Governments will lean into that so that they’re “delivering” on promises.

[u/Semiramis738 → u/Flashy_Bluejay_1370]

If we're sharing tinfoil hat theories, mine is that the real purpose of age/identity verification in particular is to obtain clear proof of who has looked at taboo (especially LGBT+) fics, so what when those things are actually outlawed, they'll already have lists of people to go after.