Dear Supporters,

Congress is moving forward with the SCREEN Act, a bill that could force age verification systems across large parts of the internet.

If passed, this law risks turning online platforms into identity checkpoints for lawful speech.

The recent advancement of the SCREEN Act (Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act) through the House Energy and Commerce Committee on March 5, 2026, demands our immediate attention and action.

Introduced in February 2025 by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL), this bill ostensibly aims to protect minors from online pornography by mandating age verification on platforms hosting harmful content.

While some proponents may have genuine intentions to shield children, the legislation is entangled with bad actors—evangelical groups and conservative puritans—who view it as a vehicle to target and eradicate content they despise, including:

• Anime
• Manga
• Comics
• Adult pornography

Free speech advocates, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), warn that such broad measures create “surveillance creep,” forcing sites like Gelbooru or Crunchyroll to demand IDs or shut down entirely.

This would chill anonymous expression and censor lawful fiction.

On X, users in anime and comics communities are sounding the alarm, noting how this could extend to:

• LGBTQ+ media
• Indie works
• Fan art
• Memes

Many warn that these proposals echo dystopian fears of government overreach.

Ideology Hidden Behind “Protection”

This mix of good intentions and ideological agendas reveals a deeper issue: puritanical forces who believe the only path to “protecting kids” is by eroding constitutional rights and handing more surveillance power to the government.

Organizations like the Heritage Foundation have long pushed for restrictions on fictional media, framing anime with stylized depictions of minors or erotic themes as “obscene,” despite Supreme Court rulings such as Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, which protect fictional content.

Critics from organizations like the Prostasia Foundation argue this approach not only stifles artistic freedom but also risks over-criminalizing creators and fans.

Recent legislation such as Texas SB20 has already sparked fears that manga chapters with suggestive elements could be banned, even when no real person is harmed.

Ignoring Real Harm While Policing Fiction

At the same time, these politicians often do little to combat real-life violence proliferating online, including:

• Videos of school shootings
• Extremist recruitment networks
• Domestic abuse footage
• Criminal exploitation networks

Reports from the GWU Extremism Program highlight how platforms struggle to moderate violent extremist content effectively, while lawmakers focus legislative energy on fictional depictions instead of tangible threats like:

• Non-consensual deepfakes
• Human trafficking
• Organized exploitation networks
• A Failure of Governance

The government's inability to address these real problems—opting instead for blanket censorship that empowers surveillance while ignoring root causes—exposes a troubling pattern.

Rather than improving enforcement of existing laws or targeting actual criminal activity, proposals like the SCREEN Act expand mass identity verification systems that place the privacy of millions of law-abiding adults at risk.

What Comes Next

As the SCREEN Act moves toward a full House vote, it is becoming increasingly clear that this legislation is not merely about protecting children.

It is about expanding control over what Americans are allowed to create, share, and consume online.

Our proposed Digital Liberty Act offers a better path forward.

It would:

• Protect privacy and anonymity online
• Safeguard free speech in digital spaces
• Establish limits on government-mandated surveillance
• Preserve constitutional protections in the internet age

All while ensuring that genuine child protection measures remain targeted, evidence-based, and focused on real harm rather than fictional expression.

Take Action Now

We cannot allow puritan agendas to hijack fundamental rights.

With this bill advancing rapidly, now is the time to act.

Please:

• Read the full Digital Liberty Act

• Sign this petition

• Share it with your networks

• Contact your representatives immediately and demand rejection of the SCREEN Act or amendments prioritizing freedom over fear

You can call your House representatives and urge them to oppose this overreach.

Together, we can protect both children and our digital liberties.

Your voice matters now more than ever.