Tennessee’s War on Adult Content: FSC Fights Back Against 15-Year Prison Threats

 

The battle for digital freedom has reached a boiling point in Tennessee. The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has officially refiled an amended complaint against the state, targeting the "Protect Tennessee Minors Act" (PTMA)—a law so extreme it could land website operators in prison for up to 15 years.

While other states like Texas have implemented age verification laws, Tennessee has taken a much darker turn by introducing severe criminal penalties that treat adult industry professionals like high-level felons.

The "Texas Style" Law with a Deadly Twist

Tennessee claims its law is based on the Texas model (House Bill 1181), which the Supreme Court recently allowed to stand. However, the FSC’s attorneys are pointing out a massive, terrifying difference:

• Texas Law: Focuses on civil penalties and fines.

• Tennessee Law (PTMA): A violation is a Class C felony. We are talking about $10,000 in fines and 15 years behind bars.

As the lawsuit states, "The Texas law... did not include any criminal provision—much less one subjecting a violator to 15 years imprisonment."

Censorship in Disguise?

According to FSC Executive Director Alison Boden, these laws aren't actually about protecting minors. The requirement to re-verify users every hour and the looming threat of prison time are designed for one thing only: to force adult content out of the state entirely.

First Amendment attorney Corey Silverstein expressed cautious hope but deep concern:

"This case differs from the Paxton case because of the criminal penalties... I remain very concerned that the Supreme Court has moved the bar, and the results are unpredictable."

What’s at Stake?

The Tennessee Attorney General, Jonathan Skrmetti, is trying to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming there is no legal basis for the FSC's complaints. But for content creators, website operators, and adult industry trade groups, the stakes couldn't be higher.

If Tennessee wins, it sets a precedent where "harmful to minors" (a definition that is often dangerously vague) becomes a ticket to a decade and a half in a prison cell.