Lauren Klug Christy Kim Cassandre Rank Porn & Regulation Lauren Klug Christy Kim Cassandre Rank

What are the ethical problems that can be addressed over how sexuality is depicted on the net & the accessibility of porn? Pros -Utilitrianism  Sexual Education, exploration of sexual identity, human nature sexual release and expression. -Feminist  Women being proud and expressive of their sexuality, and porn is not exclusive to just women. -French Moralism  Enables people to be comfortable with their own sexuality. -Virtue  People know they aren't alone in their sexual choices. ex. Homosexuals or fetishes. Cons -Utilitarianism  It is hard to measure the short term and long term benefits. -Feminist  It objectifies women, creates aggressive attitudes towards women and changes societal expectations of what is ok or not. -French Moralism  Need to set up boundaries to have order in society. Humans should strive to have the best kind of society.

Background Information Communications Decency Act → Passed in 1996, this act was an attempt by the United States Congress to regulate pornographic and obscene material on the internet. Attempted to regulate both indecency and obscenity. This act contained an anti-indecency provision which criminalized the sharing of obscene or pornographic images, videos, etc. Problem was that there is no exact definition of "obscenity." It would also limit the amount of medical information you could gain online as well as known novels from the past that used "obscene" vocabulary. ACLU→ Non-profit organization whose mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in his country by the Constitution and laws of the United State." Works through litigation, lobbying, and educating the community. Great deal of impact regarding freedom of speech and expression.

Reno vs. American Civil Liberties Union Argued in 1997 It challenged the anti-indecency provisions made by the Communications Decency Act. It said that the limits it was putting on what was obscene was too strict and infringed on the freedom of speech we all share. All nine Justices of the Court voted to strike this down as they thought it did indeed violated the freedom of speech provisions in the First Amendment.

Debate Susan Herman Janet Reno Freedom of Expression Children See Porn Self Regulation Children have unlimited access Sex Education Limits needed Objective Relativism

New York vs. Ferber Argued in 1982 Paul Ferber was charged for selling porn movies to undercover cops of underage boys masturbating. He was convicted at the trial but the The New York Court decided to reverse the conviction as they thought he was supported by the First Amendment. The State of New York asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case. The U.S. Supreme Court decided that he was guilty as under the First Amendment there is space to regulate obscenities and selling movies like this was not ok.

Debate Paul Ferber Sandra Day O’Connor Nude Art Societal Limits Freedom Of Expression Negative Opportunist Moral Relativism Bad People Are Everywhere Children Exploited

To what extent should sex & pornography be protected and are there vulnerable groups that need special protection?

Conclusion In conclusion we found that pornography and obscene material on the internet is part of our lives. Porn and sex have been a part of our lives for years and will continue to be so. The main ethical problem we face today is the accessibility of this material and children, there should be more ways to regulate and avoid them from being exposed to it, now how to effectively do that and not infringe on everyone's freedom of speech is tricky. The best way for now is by self-regulation and to take action as a parent or adult to help limit the spread and easy access to children. Other then that the idea of pornographic material as being obscene will forever be a debate, as for every culture their opinions differ. For now we can agree that sex is a natural part of every culture and porn is something that is here and it does not seem to be leaving any time soon.