March 6 (UPI) -- Rhode Island lawmakers introduced a bill this month that would charge porn viewers an extra $20 fee.
The bill, introduced by Democratic state senators Frank Ciccone and Hanna Gallo, would require Internet service providers to automatically block all "sexual content and/or patently offensive material."
Rhode Island state law defines "patently offensive material" as anything that is "so offensive on its face as to affront current standards of decency."
In order to get the material unblocked, Rhode Islanders will have to go through a series of steps, including making a request in writing that they want to be able to view the pornography or other "patently offensive material."
The person will then have to prove he or she is at least 18 years of age and then acknowledge that they received a "written warning regarding the potential danger of deactivating the digital blocking capability."
After those steps are satisfied, a one-time $20 fee is assessed to unblock the adult material.
The money collected from the fees will go to the state's council on human trafficking, according to the bill's language.
The bill was referred to the state's Senate Judiciary Committee.
kirosenn on March 6th, 2018 at 18:20 UTC »
Any digital blocking capability may be deactivated after a consumer:
Requests in writing that the capability be disabled; Presents identification to verify that the consumer is eighteen (18) years of age or older; Acknowledges receiving a written warning regarding the potential danger of deactivating the digital blocking capability Pays a one-time twenty-dollar ($20.00) digital access fee.You're telling me that every person who wants to watch porn has to submit a letter, with proof of ID, acknowledging 'potential danger' and paying $20 just to watch porn?? I see no better way than using this to build a giant list of citizens that watch freaky porn and use as leverage for unforeseen purposes.
dentedcan on March 6th, 2018 at 17:30 UTC »
One of the co-sponsors of the bill is the same idiot who put in a bill last year that would allow you to fine neighbors if pine cones fell from their tree and landed on your lawn. Oh, he was also in the middle of a personal dispute with his neighbor about a tree - go figure. We have some pretty stupid politicians here.
NYScott on March 6th, 2018 at 16:27 UTC »
Putting aside the "why," and focusing on the "how," this is a horrible bill.