Lawmakers in South Carolina have submitted a proposal before the legislature that would require PCs and other Internet-connected devices sold in the state to come pre-installed with pornography-blocking software.
According to RT, the proposal mandates that device manufacturers install porn blockers on all Internet devices sold in the state to prevent users from viewing obscene content. Failure to comply would result in a fine levied against the manufacturer.
The proposal, courtesy of Republican State Representative William "Bill" Chumley, gets even sketchier when you consider that manufacturers would be able to opt out of the ban by paying $20 per device sold. Similarly, consumers that prove they’re at least 18 or older could also have the software removed so long as they submit a written request that the filter be disabled, the publication notes.
Funds generated from the money grab would be used to combat human trafficking.
The proposal seems a bit far-fetched at first glance but then again, it’s par for the course in the south. Alabama’s Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act, which was passed in 1998 and stands to this day, makes it a criminal offense to sell adult toys in the state. First-time offenders could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a year behind bars.
Critically, the proposal doesn’t outline exactly how the adult content filter would work, who would provide and install it or how it would potentially infringe on First Amendment rights. As it sits today, it sounds a lot like ransomware, no?
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