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6 August 2012updated 12 Oct 2023 10:57am

Censorship and porn week

A themed week on the NS blogs.

By New Statesman

Earlier this year the Conservative MP Claire Perry proposed an opt-in system for internet porn, a “safe option” for parents where internet users would have to sign up to access adult material. The idea was dropped, but not before sparking a debate that had her opponents comparing the filter to oppressive internet regulation by governments in China and Iran.

This week, a landmark obscenity case has resurfaced, in which the Crown Prosecution Service will be attempting to persuade a jury that images of fisting (an activity that is itself legal) should be classified as “extreme pornography”, putting the defendant in jail and on the sex offenders’ register.

The debate on the limits of censorship is not over, and this week the New Statesman will be running a series of posts exploring obscenity, censorship and the regulation of porn.

We start with Nelson Jones, who will take a look at our particularly British attitude, and the V Spot, writing on the crucial differences between sex and porn. Later in the week, David Allen Green will report on the on-going obscenity trial, and Samira Shackle will write about the recent rise of India’s porn industry. Later we will host a debate over whether and how internet access to adult material should be moderated, and Steve Baxter will ask whether early exposure to porn really is as damaging as people think (he turned out fine).

Monday

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Nelson Jones: This censored isle, or a history of obscenity law in Britain

The Vagenda: How “sex tips for girls” – and internet porn – ruined sex

Tuesday

David Allen Green: An “extreme” prosecution?

Wednesday

Martha Gill: “Extreme porn” defendent cleared on all counts

Samira Shackle: The rise of porn in India

David Allen Green: The shameful and nasty prosecution of Simon Walsh

Thursday

Andrea Leadsom and Padraig Reidy: Should we step up online censorship?

Alex Hern: Extreme porn, me and you

Friday

Stephen Baxter: Porn never did me any harm

Alex Hern: The High Court ruling which could berak the internet

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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  • Facility / Grounds Management and Maintenance
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  • Health - Medical and Nursing Management
  • HR, Training and Organisational Development
  • Information and Communications Technology
  • Information Services, Statistics, Records, Archives
  • Infrastructure Management - Transport, Utilities
  • Legal Officers and Practitioners
  • Librarians and Library Management
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  • OH&S, Risk Management
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  • Printing, Design, Publishing, Web
  • Projects, Programs and Advisors
  • Property, Assets and Fleet Management
  • Public Relations and Media
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  • Science and Technical Research and Development
  • Security and Law Enforcement
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Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
THANK YOU