South Carolina Proposes Bill That Would Block Porn on All New Devices

[Exterminator]

New devices sold in South Carolina, be they PCs, phones, or tablets, might have to be equipped with a special filter that would block access to adult content if a newly-proposed bill gets the go-ahead.

The so-called Human Trafficking Prevention Act, proposed by State Rep. Bill Chumley, isn’t necessarily supposed to block access to porn, but to help combat human trafficking and prostitution, he explained in an interview.

The digital blocking system would have to be installed on all devices sold across the state, and manufacturers or buyers who want to turn it off would have to pay a $20 fee, with the money to then be transferred to the so-called S.C. Attorney General’s Office's human trafficking task force.

“If an end user buys an apparatus, a computer, and they want access to that, they would have to pay to have that filter removed,” Chumley was quoted as saying. “The human trafficking thing has exploded. It’s gotten to be a real problem.”

Even more filters planned
While it would be a lot easier and more affordable to block access to adult content at the ISP level, Chumley says that the digital filter that would be installed on new devices could also come with a reporting option that would allow buyers to submit content violating the rules and not yet blocked.

“If we could have manufacturers install filters that would be shipped to South Carolina, then anything that children have access on for pornography would be blocked,” Chumley said. “We felt like that would be another way to fight human trafficking.”

As surprising as it may sound, Chumley says this is “just the beginning” of more methods to restrict access to porn, but he didn’t provide any other specifics on other changes that he has in mind.

South Carolina, however, has indeed struggled to deal with human trafficking, as the state had no less than 308 cases since 2007. Authorities claim that many cases are not even reported, and this is why additional measures such as a digital filter would be necessary.

First of all please no crude,if even in fun,about porn sites.They will be deleted.

So South Carolina wants to force people buying PC's,laptops,Tablets and cell phones to but these with a special adult website filter to help combat their states human trafficking problem.
Then if you do not want the filter you have to pay to get it removed.

As noble as that may sound is this really the way to combat human trafficking?
Human trafficking is a very real problem ,not just in North Carolina,but all over the world.
Sure everyone wants to protect children from viewing adult content but is it up to a governmental agency or the parents?

Adult websites are not illegal,that is mainstream pornography not dark web pornography,so there is no crime involved if an adult wishes to view these sites and material.
Why not propose a tax that will allocate money to fund the war on human trafficking?

With many countries banning adult websites this seems to be a growing trend.However most of these countries ban them at the ISP level.

This is an interesting topic indeed.
Is it a governmental party pushing their moral beliefs and values on the citizens of North Carolina using a world wide problem to justify it?

If you live in North Carolina and this passes you are now told you have to buy anyone of these products with a filter.Which brings into play your right to privacy.
Does a consumer really know what this filter actually does,does is send information about where you go and what you do online.

With more filters planned for the future what do think?

 

[Venhiem]

So we've installed a filter on the devices you paid for, because we can. To have it removed, pay up.
Sounds something like the ransomeware we're seeing so much of these days.

And what's next? To browse News websites give 10$ in 'charity' to the Help-The-Journalists foundation? Thanks for buying the earphones, but before they work please help the deaf by paying $30 and/or donating a kidney to the hospital?

 

[OokamiCreed]

I do not believe in censorship being the way to improve a situation unless that site actually encourages illegal activity (such as extremist sites).

In this case, blocking access to this kind of content will not change anything at all and attempting to get more money after people already pay for internet access (which is very overpriced as it is) is just ridiculous. Mind as well be asking for a fee to access a search engine as it provides a way to find this content in the first place.

Sounds something like the ransomeware we're seeing so much of these days.

That is a really great way to describe it. Having a user pay for content they should otherwise have access to is basically what ransomware is.

 

[jamescv7]

Honestly even a filter is implemented, it can be easily bypass by using VPN or proxy. No way possible to block all tools related to VPN or proxy cause everything should undergone due process on why it should block.

I understand the point however it will not reduced the possible worst scenario.

Better yet crack down intensively those human traffickers instead which will decrease pornography exploitation.

 

[ravi prakash saini]

The rule is simple thought the globe ,if you have money you can do what you want.
$20 one can watch porn content
$50 one can watch porn content live
$70 one can watch porn content in person and so on

 

[Venustus]

Censorship is not really the answer!
You censor this,then you set a precedent to censor other things and eventually we all become censored!
Freedom of speech/expression is a fundamental/God given human right!!
Just my 2cents....

 

[Cohen]

Censoring content that is completely legal for people to do isn't benefiting anyone.
Governments should target illegal pornography sites and content rather than trying to block it all. What about sites like Reddit and Tumblr where there are all kinds of content including pornographic, how will they combat that?

 

[shmu26]

porn is exploitation of human beings and their innate dignity. This is much worse than exploit of browsers or pdf readers, which we make such a big deal about here on MT.

I like the proposed idea. South caroline is right in theory, although @jamescv7 is right that it will be too easy to bypass.

 

[Venhiem]

porn is exploitation of human beings and their innate dignity. This is much worse than exploit of browsers or pdf readers, which we make such a big deal about here on MT.

If by that you mean adult film actors, then you are wrong. No one has forced them to do anything, they are doing it for the money, and doing it by choice. It doesn't matter what your morals, culture and/or your religion has to say about something - if it is legal, you can't stop anyone from it. That is freedom.
And comparing porn to malware/keygens is just, I can't even.

 

[MalwareBlockerYT]

What is the point of blocking it when you can easily bypass it with a VPN? VPNs or even Proxies are easy to find online, free & quick to use. There is no possible way of blocking all material online & honestly if they want to stop youngsters from viewing Porn they should just add an adult verification of some kind (if possible).

They should focus on blocking illegal material first though.

 

[SHvFl]

Meh like all must realized by now when you buy a new device you should reset it on your own. Issue come from resetting mobile devices which can be reset easily only to the manufacture state. That is the real problem and it's already there even without the porn block.
Unfortunately Android and iOS are jews and don't want to let you do what you want with your device for "security" reasons.

 

[shmu26]

If by that you mean adult film actors, then you are wrong. No one has forced them to do anything, they are doing it for the money, and doing it by choice. It doesn't matter what your morals, culture and/or your religion has to say about something - if it is legal, you can't stop anyone from it. That is freedom.
And comparing porn to malware/keygens is just, I can't even.

Hi there @Venhiem, I understand that you disagree with me, and I understand that you are vehemently opposed to my views, but at least quote me correctly. You added the word "new" at the beginning of the quote.

 

[Venhiem]

Hi there @Venhiem, I understand that you disagree with me, and I understand that you are vehemently opposed to my views, but at least quote me correctly. You added the word "new" at the beginning of the quote.

Welp, that was an accident. Sorry. Happened because of the 'new' tag on the right.

 

[shmu26]

Welp, that was an accident. Sorry. Happened because of the 'new' tag on the right.

no prob!

 

[_CyberGhosT_]

I feel that as long as the content in question does not violate the security or safety, or laws on a state or
federal level then censoring it is over reaching and not appropriate.
I am not a fan of porn, but this is the first step on a very slippery slope.

 

[DJ Panda]

Interesting proposition. I honestly don't care what the government does because I have nothing really to hide. Some may say this reduces my free speech but the way I see it is that if you use free-speech in a way to harm or discriminate someone it becomes an exploit. End of story. Nice article btw

 

[antreas]

If they even do it we find a way to remove it with out paying. we always find our way to everything

 

[Paul123]

I honestly don't care what the government does because I have nothing really to hide.

I dont think it has anything to do with whether you have anything to hide or not, privacy is an innate right and you shouldn't be treated as a criminal or spied on, for no reason - to me its in the same category as innocent until proved guilty. How many terrorists have been caught by mass surveillance, few if any I would think - I doubt terrorists send plain text emails. Mass surveillance is the tool of a government that doesn't trust its people, and has no part in a democracy.

Ive already posted this once, but it gives a good idea of the future if we dont fight for our privacy:

 

[DJ Panda]

I dont think it has anything to do with whether you have anything to hide or not, privacy is an innate right and you shouldn't be treated as a criminal or spied on, for no reason - to me its in the same category as innocent until proved guilty. How many terrorists have been caught by mass surveillance, few if any I would think - I doubt terrorists send plain text emails. Mass surveillance is the tool of a government that doesn't trust its people, and has no part in a democracy.

Ive already posted this once, but it gives a good idea of the future if we dont fight for our privacy:

I respect you're opinions. Too me I feel like my privacy isn't threatened even with Diagnostic features from different apps. I don't even own a phone. Even if the government was spying on me I wouldn't really mind. Finding at least a couple of terrorists is better than nothing. My life is different from yours everyone has preferences. It's honestly not worth the worry and fuss in the end something is always going to have some sort of privacy "leak"

 

[Vipersd]

False morality is even biger issue. It is not porn that is problem here but censorship that would only start with porn material online. Human traficking is like seling drugs or illegal weapons it has nothing to do with pornography. Civili liberties are gradualy reduced in the name of security although it does not produce any results.