How Project 2025’s Plan to Censor Porn Impacts Us All, Not Just Sex Workers

In today’s digital world, accessing adult content is easier than ever. For many, pornographic content is a click away, making it seem like a permanent part of modern life. However, the ease of access to sexual content that we often take for granted was not always the case. Only in 1969 did the U.S. Supreme Court rule that adults could view explicit content in the privacy of their own homes. Since then, publishers, artists, and advocates have fought hard to protect our freedoms in this realm. But now, a group of conservative activists is pushing to remove those rights—and they’re going after a wide spectrum of sexual expression online, known as Project 2025.

What Is Project 2025?

Project 2025 is a detailed policy plan from the conservative Heritage Foundation, aiming to limit freedoms in various areas if implemented, potentially under a future administration. While the plan touches on various social issues, one of its main targets is pornography, which it aims to criminalize. It calls for the banning of pornographic content and proposes criminal charges for anyone producing or distributing it, as well as penalties for educators or tech companies promoting it.

Some argue that this push to censor sexual content could have broader implications beyond adult entertainment alone. Over the years, debates about the censorship of pornography have been closely tied to the struggle for freedom of expression in America. Historically, such restrictions often spill over to impact political content and the right to dissent.

A Look Back at Censorship Battles

In the mid-20th century, American censorship efforts targeted not just explicit images and movies but also books and artistic works. A landmark Supreme Court case in 1973, Miller v. California, declared that content couldn’t be censored if it held “serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.” This ruling opened doors for more diverse forms of expression, making it hard for the government to prosecute creators of explicit content under claims of “obscenity.”

The win for Miller v. California not only protected adult content but helped create stronger protections for freedom of speech across the board. Before this decision, censorship could easily block all kinds of expression, including political literature and commentary. The current push to overturn Miller v. California may reverse many of those protections, sparking concerns that stricter censorship measures might be implemented across social media and digital platforms.

How Censorship Can Affect Us All

Project 2025’s plans aren’t just limited to targeting adult content; their proposed censorship could spread to content that criticizes political ideologies or cultural movements. A past example is the 2018 FOSTA-SESTA bill, which targeted online ads for trafficking but ended up affecting adult performers who use social media to promote their work legally. When these restrictions went into effect, social media companies applied strict algorithms to moderate content, leading to unintended consequences where even non-adult accounts discussing sexuality were affected.

The same algorithms used to censor sexually explicit posts later affected other forms of speech, including political accounts and groups. In the 2020 election, algorithms were used to restrict the reach of certain movements and political topics. This broad application of censorship tools often leaves room for errors, and critics argue that any future measures inspired by Project 2025 might extend beyond adult content to limit freedom of speech and artistic freedom.

The Importance of Defending Free Expression

To many, pornography or sexual content may seem like a non-essential or undesirable area of free speech. However, the legal battles fought by publishers and activists have been crucial in defending broader civil rights. In restricting one form of expression, history shows us that other forms may follow. Free speech advocates warn that as the digital age progresses, efforts to censor porn can create a pathway for further limitations on other online content, such as political discourse or protests.

Just as we scrutinize how people in power treat those they see as “lesser,” we should pay attention to how leaders treat those who rely on free expression for their work or identity. Project 2025’s stance on pornography is more than just a restriction on adult content; it reflects a push to monitor and regulate broader aspects of online freedom. This approach may quickly affect everyday social media users who share ideas, artwork, and opinions that some groups find controversial or undesirable.

Why It Matters

Regardless of personal views on adult content, the freedom to create and access it has been closely tied to our freedom to explore and discuss diverse perspectives. Project 2025 brings that freedom into question, and history warns us of what such restrictions can lead to. In a world where many of us rely on digital platforms for information, community, and entertainment, the risks of widespread censorship extend far beyond adult content.

As discussions around Project 2025 continue, it’s essential to stay informed. The call to ban adult content might start with claims of “protection” or “morality,” but the broad implications for freedom of speech and expression mean this is an issue that affects us all. Whether it’s a popular series, a piece of literature, or a social post about political views, the right to access and express these freely is at the heart of modern society’s values.