WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and its Obscenity Prosecution Taskforce has posted a list of frequently asked questions and answers, pertaining to the final revisions for 18 U.S.C. § 2257 regulations, which were issued in December.

The DOJ’s 2257 FAQs were posted last Thursday. To view, follow this link: http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/optf/links/2257-compliance-guide.html 

18 U.S.C. § 2257 regulations govern “name- and age-verification, recordkeeping and labeling requirements on producers of visual depictions of actual human beings engaged in actual sexually explicit conduct.” 

The DOJ’s FAQs attempt to describe definitions of terms, including "lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area" and "simulated sexually explicit conduct." There also are explanations of third party record-keeping requirements, Webpage labeling, dating of content, and several other key points from the revised regulations. 

"This is a useful tool for people who have questions about some of the basic operations. It also is valuable as it binds the government to specific positions," Free Speech Coalition Board Chair and attorney Jeffrey Douglas said. “As always, if you are unsure about or have questions regarding 2257 compliance, make sure to contact an attorney familiar with 18 U.S.C. § 2257.” 

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has recently retained a legal team to present a challenge to the revised 2257 regulations. In ongoing litigation against the DOJ and 2257, FSC has asserted that the regulations are burdensome for producers of sexually explicit content, as well as a violation of content producers First Amendment rights.