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Want to Watch Online Porn in S. Carolina? $20, Please

If this bill goes through, it could be a lot harder for those in the state to access Pornhub on new PCs.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Pornography fans might have trouble getting their fix if a South Carolina lawmaker has his way.

As the Associated Press reports, a bill from state Rep. Bill Chumley "would require sellers to install digital blocking capabilities on computers and other devices that access the internet to prevent the viewing of obscene content." So it could be a lot harder to access Pornhub from a newly purchased PC or tablet.

The proposal, pre-filed this month, would also "prohibit access to any online hub that facilities prostitution and would require manufacturers or sellers to block any websites that facilitate trafficking," the report notes.

Buyers and sellers could, however, pay to get around the new rules. Manufacturers would have to pay $20 per device sold without these "porn filters" while buyers of age could pay $20 to remove the block. This money would go to the Attorney General's human trafficking task force, according to the report.

The proposal seems a bit half-baked. Chumley himself tells the local GoUpstate.com that his proposal is a "beginning point" in his bid to combat human trafficking. The lawmaker's district is "a hotbed for human trafficking due to its location on Interstate 85 between Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., two cities that consistently rank among the top 20 for human sex trafficking in the US," the site says.

But it presents a host of freedom of speech issues and likely also violates net neutrality rules that ban discrimination based on app or service. Ironically, Chumley in February tweeted that "the fight for Freedom of Speech is the battle of this generation," regarding the censorship of conservative students at the University of South Carolina.

Chumley's bill has reportedly been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

It comes after the popular porn website xHamster in April went dark in neighboring North Carolina to protest a state law that restricts the rights of the LGBT community. XHamster vowed to keep the ban in place until the North Carolina repeals House Bill 2, which allows for discrimination based on sexual orientation.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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