Which case held that banning the showing of allegedly obscene films to consenting adults in a commercial theater did not violate the First Amendment or the right to privacy?

• A. Cox Broadcasting Corp v. Colin (1975)
• B. Furman v. Georgia (1972)
• C. Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton (1973)
• D. Stanley v. Georgia (1969)

Answer: (C)

Obscenity isn’t protected by the First Amendment, so the government can regulate or ban the display of obscene material, even when adults consent to view it in a commercial setting. In Paris Adult Theatre I v. Slaton, the Supreme Court upheld a Georgia law that barred the showing of obscene films to the public in theaters, concluding that there is no constitutional right to view obscenity in a public venue and that privacy rights do not shield such material from regulation. The Court emphasized the state’s interest in preventing exposure to obscene material to a broad audience and protecting the public welfare, which outweighs any supposed privacy interest in watching this content in a theater. This distinction also aligns with the idea that privacy protections in private spaces (like possession in the home) do not automatically translate to privacy in public or commercial displays.