Define the term ‘obscenity’ used in E-commerce.

The term "obscenity" refers to anything that offends
people's morals.  However, the term is generally used to refer to things that are
offensive in a sexual way.  In other words, a depiction of someone stealing would offend
our morals, but it would not be obscene.  The word has come to be connected mainly
(especially in E-commerce) with pornography.

In the United
States, at least, it is very hard to clearly define what is and is not obscene.  In the
case of Miller v. California, the Supreme Court set up a three-part
test to define obscenity.  They said that something is obscene if
it

• appeals to "the prurient interest"
  


• depicts sexual conduct in a "patently offensive way"
  and


• lacks (as a whole) and "serious literary, artistic,
  political, or scientific value."

As you can
see, this is a very vague rule.  "Prurient" refers to an "excessive" or "unhealthy"
interest in sex.  This is hard to define.  It is hard to say what is "patently
offensive."  It is also hard to define "serious....value."  Therefore, it is very hard
to define what things are and are not obscene, at least in the
US.