H.R. 4341: the "Truth in Advertising Act of 2014"

Full text available from congress.gov.

ATSRTWT

A slice:

Congress finds ... An increasing amount of academic evidence links exposure to ... altered images with emotional, mental, and physical health issues, including eating disorders, especially among children and teenagers. There is particular concern about the marketing of such images to children and teenagers through distribution in teen-oriented publications, advertising displayed in public places outside the home, and online media.

Is the digital manipulation of photographic images coercive? If so, is there a compelling public interest in keeping these materials from the attention of vulnerable minds? Would you impose a fine on your parents for clumsily separating a model's thighs when retouching a photograph?

I grew up watching He-Man as a kid. I suppose that explains my propensity for trying to ride my tabby cat into battle against a muscle-bound demilich. Still, I'm grateful that the scolds of the PMRC era didn't get their meathooks too deeply into Mattel in 1983. The Castle Greyskull playset is quite the collector's item.

Maybe I'd be willing to grant that digitally manipulated images aren't euvoluntary. Maybe. I'd have to squint pretty hard and hold my breath, but maybe. Still, it's a mighty leap from there to "therefore we should empower government censors to review each and every image that lands on paper." Please check your totalitarian instincts before forwarding terrifying legislation like this. I beg you for the sake of the Republic.

Latest action as of 4/29: Sponsor (Ileana Ros-Lehtinen [R-FL]) introductory remarks on measure.

h/t Reason