What's happening
This bill makes it a misdemeanor to publicly display adult entertainment advertisements that blur or obscure a person's face.
Why it matters
Targets anonymity in adult entertainment ads. By criminalizing the public display of adult entertainment advertisements that obscure or blur a person's face, the law aims to prevent the use of anonymity in such ads, potentially aiming to reduce exploitation, trafficking, or unconsented use of images.
Broad application across media and venues. The legislation covers a wide range of advertising channels—including print, digital, physical displays, and websites—meaning it could affect both traditional businesses (strip clubs, adult theaters) and online adult content providers.
Potential privacy and free speech concerns. Requiring faces to be shown in adult advertisements could discourage participation in legal adult industries due to privacy fears, or raise First Amendment/free speech questions about compelled identification.
Seeks to increase accountability. By making it a misdemeanor to display such blurred advertisements, the law could make it easier for law enforcement to identify individuals involved in adult entertainment advertising and potentially deter illicit activities disguised through anonymity.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Blurred Sex Ads Publicly
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5320
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 8, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. WEPRIN -- read once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to establishing the offense of public display of a blurred sexual advertisement
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 245.12 to read as follows: § 245.12 Public display of a blurred sexual advertisement.
(a) A person is guilty of public display of a blurred sexual advertisement when, with knowledge of his character and content, he or she displays, publishes, disseminates, circulates, places before the public or causes, directly or indirectly, to be displayed, published, disseminated, circulated or placed before the public in or on any window, showcase, newsstand, display rack, wall, door, billboard, display board, viewing screen, moving picture screen, marquee, newspaper, magazine, pamphlet, booklet, website, publication or similar place, in this state, any pictorial, three-dimensional or other visual adult entertainment advertisement depicting a person or a portion of the human body without revealing the entire face of such person.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the term "adult entertainment advertisement" shall mean an advertisement for any person, firm, corporation or association that owns or operates anything sex-related including, but not limited to any:
(i) strip club, gentleman's club, or establishment which features dancers that are displayed in such manner or attire as to expose to view any portion of the pubic area, anus, vulva or genitals, or any simulation thereof, or permit any female to appear in such manner or attire as to expose to view any portion of the breast below the top of the areola;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09502-01-7
A. 5320 2
(ii) website, internet business, magazine, newspaper or other publication or movie, DVD or video with pornographic content which shall mean any still or motion picture showing acts of sexual intercourse or acts of sexual perversion. This section shall not be construed as applying to bona fide medical photographs or films;
(iii) adult or over-eighteen phone or chat line; or
(iv) adult personal advertisement business.
Public display of a blurred sexual advertisement is a class A misdemeanor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.