Iceland to Introduce Online Porn Shield

The recent initiative of the Icelandic government to address the circulation of hardcore porn online has received considerable attention from the press. Many industry observers have expressed their view on the subject, some of them appreciated the effort, the others dismissed it as well-intentioned, if misguided, or as an effort to filter the web in the country.

In the meanwhile, the initiative emerged from an extensive consultation process on sexual violence, which involved police, kids protection specialists, attorneys and academic researchers. The concerns about the effects porn has on children forced three ministries to call upon a wide range of professionals to discuss the issue and to contribute to the development of a comprehensive policy. As a result, proposals emerging from this process are currently being implemented under the control of the three ministries. The proposals include increased emphasis on violence prevention, reconsidering sex education and forming a comprehensive policy on sexual health. However, the proposals on legal amendments received the most attention from the media.

A document is now being prepared in order to narrow the legal definition of porn, distribution of which is already against the law, in order to encompass only violent and degrading sexual content. The main purpose of the bill is to make the distinction between sex and violence basing on the Norwegian penal code.

In the meantime, a committee headed by the ministry is currently looking for ways the law can be enforced. The main question is still the possibility of placing restrictions on Internet distribution of violent and degrading porn in the country. Both technical solutions and legal and procedural measures are being discussed.

However, critics of this proposal argue that any attempt of this kind will automatically involve online filtering and illegal restrictions on the protected freedom of speech. They point out that our freedom of speech and behavior is actually limited in many ways, although it is considered to be violation of people’s universal human rights. They also claim that it should be the parents’ responsibility to protect their kids from unwanted online content. However, any parent will agree that it’s impossible to keep an eye on their children at all times, especially on teenagers.