Utah Lawmakers Propose 7% Tax on Porn Sites, Critics Argue It's Unconstitutional
In a move that has sparked debate about free speech and censorship, Utah lawmakers have proposed a bill to impose a 7% tax on total receipts from sales and subscriptions of adult content. The tax would also require adult sites to pay an annual fee of $500 to the State Tax Commission.
The proposed legislation aims to raise funds for mental health support services for teenagers, but critics argue that it's unconstitutional and singles out protected speech for disfavored treatment. According to Evelyn Douek, an associate professor of law at Stanford Law School, "This kind of porn tax is blatantly unconstitutional...It's exactly what the First Amendment is designed to protect against."
The push for a porn tax has gained momentum in recent years, with 25 US states having passed some form of age verification laws. Some lawmakers argue that adult content poses a public health crisis, but others point out that such regulations are often used as a backdoor tactic to ban the industry altogether.
Critics, including Mike Stabile, director of public policy at the Free Speech Coalition, argue that taxation on speech limits the right to free expression and targets certain groups unfairly. "What if a state decided that Covid misinformation was straining state health resources and taxed newsletters who promoted it?" he asks. "Porn isn't some magical category of speech separate from movies, streaming services, or other forms of entertainment."
The move is also seen as part of a broader trend towards censorship in the US, with efforts to restrict online content becoming increasingly popular. As one critic notes, "Sites like OnlyFans and Pornhub have made it easier for adult entertainers and consumers to access their platforms, but they're also making it harder for lawmakers to police them."
The proposal has sparked debate about the limits of government power and the right to free speech, with some arguing that taxation on speech is a threat to democracy. As one commentator notes, "It's not just about porn; it's about what kind of country we want to be."
In a move that has sparked debate about free speech and censorship, Utah lawmakers have proposed a bill to impose a 7% tax on total receipts from sales and subscriptions of adult content. The tax would also require adult sites to pay an annual fee of $500 to the State Tax Commission.
The proposed legislation aims to raise funds for mental health support services for teenagers, but critics argue that it's unconstitutional and singles out protected speech for disfavored treatment. According to Evelyn Douek, an associate professor of law at Stanford Law School, "This kind of porn tax is blatantly unconstitutional...It's exactly what the First Amendment is designed to protect against."
The push for a porn tax has gained momentum in recent years, with 25 US states having passed some form of age verification laws. Some lawmakers argue that adult content poses a public health crisis, but others point out that such regulations are often used as a backdoor tactic to ban the industry altogether.
Critics, including Mike Stabile, director of public policy at the Free Speech Coalition, argue that taxation on speech limits the right to free expression and targets certain groups unfairly. "What if a state decided that Covid misinformation was straining state health resources and taxed newsletters who promoted it?" he asks. "Porn isn't some magical category of speech separate from movies, streaming services, or other forms of entertainment."
The move is also seen as part of a broader trend towards censorship in the US, with efforts to restrict online content becoming increasingly popular. As one critic notes, "Sites like OnlyFans and Pornhub have made it easier for adult entertainers and consumers to access their platforms, but they're also making it harder for lawmakers to police them."
The proposal has sparked debate about the limits of government power and the right to free speech, with some arguing that taxation on speech is a threat to democracy. As one commentator notes, "It's not just about porn; it's about what kind of country we want to be."
... I mean, who do these lawmakers think they are? Trying to tax people for what they watch on their own time? It's like, come on! 
They're not forcing anyone to pay the tax. If you wanna look at some adult content, that's your prerogative. The government shouldn't be in the business of regulating it.
. What's next? Taxing people for watching movies or TV shows? Or how about taxing people for listening to music they like?
. Newsflash: it's not about being a hero; it's about respecting people's rights and freedoms. And this proposed tax is just a slap in the face 
.
this whole thing is so complicated 
but like, shouldn't we be focusing on actual public health issues instead of taxing people for something they choose to watch online? 
️ and what's next? taxing news sites that report on certain topics or regulating social media platforms for posting stuff that might offend some ppl? 
it feels like gov is trying to control everything 
. I mean, if they can tax newsletters that spread misinformation, why not adult content? It just seems like a slippery slope to me. And what's the real motive here? Is it really about raising funds for mental health support or are they trying to control the industry altogether? 
I think we need to be super careful with this kind of legislation because it can set a bad precedent for our democracy 
. If we accept that taxation on speech can be used to regulate certain industries, where do we draw the line? Is it okay to tax newsletters promoting misinformation about Covid 
? It's a grey area, indeed.
. We need to be cautious not to overreach and undermine our right to free speech 
.
. Let's focus on promoting healthy attitudes towards sex education and mental health support instead of stigmatizing adult content 
.
, but as long as it's consenting adults and not harming anyone else, shouldn't they have some freedom to express themselves online? 
. I mean, the Free Speech Coalition is already speaking out against this bill, but what if there aren't enough people speaking up? It's scary to think that our government could start taxing us for expressing ourselves online.
.
(source: Pew Research), so where's the harm in a 7% tax? It's also interesting to note that mental health support services for teens have seen a 300% increase since 2010 
(source: CDC). Maybe we should focus on funding those programs instead of trying to control the internet 
. Are we assuming that all adult content is bad and causes problems in teens' lives? That's a pretty narrow view 
.
. Do we really want to live in a society where the government has so much control over our online activities? 
.