1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA). This legislation, under the guise of protecting public morality, poses a serious threat to free expression and individual liberties by effectively criminalizing consensual adult content online. The bill’s attempt to define and police “obscenity” on the internet is deeply troubling, particularly given the vague and subjective nature of such definitions. By restricting the creation and distribution of online pornography—even between consenting adults—the act disregards the First Amendment rights of content creators, viewers, and the broader digital community. The internet is a vital space for artistic, sexual, and personal expression. Attempts to impose moralistic, one-size-fits-all standards across state lines risk silencing marginalized voices and harming communities that rely on digital platforms for education, empowerment, and connection. LGBTQ+ people, sex educators, and sex workers—who already face disproportionate scrutiny and censorship—would be especially vulnerable under this legislation. Furthermore, this bill represents an alarming overreach of federal power into private lives. It echoes outdated attempts at moral censorship that have repeatedly been struck down by the courts and rejected by the public. In an era when privacy and bodily autonomy are already under siege, we must not allow Congress to trample over constitutional freedoms in the name of paternalism. I urge you to reject the Interstate Obscenity Definition Act and stand up for free speech, privacy, and the rights of adults to engage in legal, consensual expression online. Our democracy depends on it.