U.S. Proposal for SCREEN Act Sparks Outrage Among Anime Fans over Potential Threats
In recent times, there has been a wave of misinformation circulating about a potential ban on anime in the United States. However, fact-checking reveals that these rumors are unfounded.
The source of the confusion stems from the introduction of the SCREEN Act (Shielding Children’s Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act) in February 2025. This legislation, proposed by Congresswoman Mary Miller and Senator Mike Lee, aims to enforce age verification on online platforms to prevent minors from accessing pornographic content. It does not explicitly ban or target anime.
Professor Kirsten Cather of the University of Texas has expressed concern about a potential slippery slope being breached with the Indonesian bill, but the SCREEN Act is a separate piece of legislation, focused on child protection in the digital realm.
Elsewhere, Texas Senate Bill 20 has raised concerns among manga and anime fans. This bill criminalizes the possession or promotion of obscene visual material that appears to depict minors, including cartoons or anime-style characters. The vague wording of this bill has led to worries that some artistic works could be considered illegal under this law, particularly where it involves depictions of minors in questionable contexts. It is important to note that this bill is state-specific and not a federal ban.
The ongoing confusion on social media platforms like X and Reddit has escalated, with fans expressing panic and humor about the situation. However, Elon Musk’s chatbot Grok has clarified that Congress is not trying to ban anime outright, emphasizing that the SCREEN Act is about age verification against pornography, not anime or manga.
Meanwhile, the anime series "Twisted Wonderland" is set to be released on Disney+, a testament to the continued popularity and acceptance of anime in the US.
It is crucial to separate fact from fiction when it comes to legislation affecting art and entertainment. While there are concerns about the implications of bills like Texas Senate Bill 20, no nationwide legislation currently bans anime in any country. The misconceptions about a US-wide anime ban are false, and the context instead involves child protection laws aimed at pornography with some potential indirect effects on animated content due to broad legal language.
Sources: [1] CNET [2] Polygon [3] Kotaku [4] Vox
- Despite the misinformation circulating on social media platforms, there is no intention to ban anime in the United States as a nationwide law.
- The ongoing debate about child protection laws, such as the SCREEN Act and Texas Senate Bill 20, may have indirect effects on anime due to broad legal language, but these laws do not explicitly ban or target anime.
