The Michigan legislature is coming for your rights, and HB 4938, the so-called “Anticorruption of Public Morals Act,” is the weapon they are wielding. Introduced on September 11 by Rep. Josh Schriver and five Republican co-sponsors, this bill is far more than a “porn ban.” It is a direct assault on free speech, LGBTQ+ identity, and the open internet we all rely on. If it passes, Michigan would become the first state in the country to attempt a complete ban on online pornography while also criminalizing gender expression. The scope reaches even further. HB 4938 bans ASMR, “moaning audio,” AI-generated content, cosplay, digital art, and written stories, sweeping ordinary creativity into a regime of censorship.
Here is what it would mean in practice. Sharing “prohibited material” could bring a prison sentence of 20 years and a fine of $100,000. Sharing more than 100 pieces would increase the penalty to 25 years in prison and $125,000 in fines. Internet Service Providers would be required to act as censors, blocking entire websites, monitoring VPNs, and removing flagged content within 48 hours. Platforms would need to operate 24/7 surveillance systems, create trusted flagger programs, and submit compliance reports to law enforcement. A new state “Internet Enforcement Division” would oversee the system with fines of up to half a million dollars for violations. This is not safety. This is state-controlled online policing.
The communities most at risk are the ones already targeted. HB 4938 explicitly bans content that depicts “a disconnection between biology and gender.” That is a deliberate attempt to equate LGBTQ+ identity with obscenity. Nearly one in three LGBTQ+ youth already avoid online spaces for fear of harassment (Trevor Project, 2023). Under this law, their self-expression could be criminalized. Over 80 percent of adult creators depend on online income to survive (University of Nevada, 2022). This bill could erase their livelihoods. More than 20 percent of young people watch ASMR weekly (Pew Research, 2023). Even that could be treated as a crime.
Proponents claim HB 4938 is about protecting children. It is not. It is about control. The bill fits a larger national pattern. In 2023 and 2024, more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced in the United States (ACLU). Each one uses “child protection” as cover to strip away rights and silence communities. Representative Schriver, the lead sponsor, has called for marriage equality to be overturned and has repeatedly pushed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. This is a test run for a broader agenda that seeks to normalize censorship and redefine identity as criminal.
The danger is not only in the law itself but also in the message it sends. By equating gender expression with obscenity, Michigan lawmakers are laying the groundwork for even broader attacks on free expression, art, politics, and news. Today it is queer content and ASMR. Tomorrow it could be your favorite show, your favorite artist, or your own voice online.
We cannot let this happen. HB 4938 is a direct assault on freedom, equality, and the future of the open internet. Censorship is not safety. It silences communities instead of protecting them. Once it begins, it spreads. Michigan must not build an internet police force.
Use the form below to take action.
- If you are in Michigan, send a letter to your state representative today and demand they vote NO on HB 4938.
- If you are outside Michigan, share this blog, sign up for our newsletter, and help us spread the word.
Together, we can stop HB 4938 and push back against the rising tide of digital repression. The stakes could not be higher. Act now and stand with us to protect free expression and equality.
Please take action against the Anticorruption of Public Morals Act in Michigan: