Difference between revisions of "Obscenity"
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| − | Displaying obscene content on web pages is illegal in the United States. | + | Displaying obscene content on web pages is illegal in the United States. Obscene speech or expression is not protected under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution], which protects free speech. |
Obscenity is not as clearly defined as [[ChildPornography|child pornography]]. Federal and state courts use a 1973 case to consider whether material is obscene, applying three criteria: | Obscenity is not as clearly defined as [[ChildPornography|child pornography]]. Federal and state courts use a 1973 case to consider whether material is obscene, applying three criteria: | ||
Revision as of 01:14, 30 January 2010
Displaying obscene content on web pages is illegal in the United States. Obscene speech or expression is not protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects free speech.
Obscenity is not as clearly defined as child pornography. Federal and state courts use a 1973 case to consider whether material is obscene, applying three criteria:
- Whether an average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work as a whole appeals to prurient interest
- Whether the work depicts sexual content in a patently offensive way
- Whether the work as a whole lacks serious artistic, literary, political or scientific merit
Cornell University Law School has an informative page on obscenity.
More on obscenity:
See also:
