The Obscenity Prosecution Task Force (OPTF) was an organization created in 2005 by the United States Department of Justice. The OPTF's job was to investigate and prosecute producers and distributors of hardcore pornography that meets the legal tests for obscenity, as defined by the Supreme Court of the United States.Staff report (November 21, 2005). An All-Out Assault On Sexual Content. BusinessWeekAbramson, Larry (September 27, 2005). Federal Government Renews Effort to Curb Porn. Morning Edition, National Public Radio The group was led by U.S. Attorney Brent Ward.
The task force was formed during the Presidency of George W. Bush to investigate hardcore pornography at the urging of social conservative groups.Glover, Scott (June 9, 2008). Upcoming trial will see hours of hard-core fetish pornography. Los Angeles TimesKay, Julie (August 30, 2005). U.S. Attorney's Porn Fight Gets Bad Reviews. Daily Business Review Notable cases were brought against Joseph R. Francis' Mantra Films, Inc. (Girls Gone Wild), as well as producers Ira Isaacs, John Stagliano, and Max Hardcore.Gross, Grant (July 25, 2007). U.S. Man Faces Online Porn Charges. PC World
Eric Holder, Barack Obama's appointee for United States Attorney General, dissolved the task force in spring 2011, leaving obscenity prosecutions to the United States Department of Justice Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.
References
External links Obscenity Prosecution Task Force