|
Laws regarding the distribution, possession and buying of Internet pornography are specific to each country. There is no global law, despite the global nature of the Internet. For example, someone may legally distribute pornography in their country - this does not make it legal in the country it is being consumed due to local laws.
"Most countries in the world have laws on what is considered decent and what is not. In the UK, photos of an erect penis are considered obscene and not allowed. The definition of obscene dates from the 1959 Obscene Publications Act:
... an article shall be deemed to be obscene if its effect... is, if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely... to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it." [1]
While many countries hold different laws concerning adult pornography, there is a general consensus about the immorality and prevention of child pornography. The displaying of child pornography on the Internet is illegal in the United States. [2] However a study by the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC) shows that many countries do not have laws addressing child pornography, or the existing laws are inadequate.[3]
The Internet has become the most popular way to access pornography. It offers a level of anonymity, is relatively cheap, easily accessible, abundant and depicts a wide variety of sexual behaviour. Due to the ease of acquiring Internet pornography (which may happen involuntarily), there are concerns about how pornographic material can be accessed by minors. Regulation by age verification software and Internet filters can be used, but the technology is still in development.
Editors: Karene Jade Howie
|