Pornography by region
Encyclopedia
The production
and distribution
of pornographic movies are economic
activities of some importance. The exact size of the economy of pornography and the influence that it plays in political circles are matters of controversy. In many countries 18+ pornography
is legal to distribute and to produce; however there are often restrictions placed upon it.
, the pornography industry is somewhat limited. However, pornography is abundant, especially pirate DVDs from the USA and Europe, which are present on the streets of most capitals in Latin America.
In Brazil
, all actors in pornographic films must be 18 or older; regular pornography (not involving bestiality/snuff) is legal when sold in public places (depictions of sex with animals and snuff are legal); magazine
and DVD covers that depict genitalia must be hidden from public view; and pornography can only be sold to people 18 or older.
, pornography is a large industry that involves major entertainment companies such as Time Warner
, which profits from pornography through its cable channels and in-room movies in hotels. Pornography distribution changed radically during the 1980s, with VHS
and cable television
largely displacing X-rated theaters. VHS distribution, in turn, has been replaced by DVD
and Internet distribution for niche markets.
Pornography generates billions of dollars in sales in the United States
alone, and economists have suggested that it has now reached the point where the outlawing of the industry, which has been tried on occasion, could have a major negative economic impact. An outright ban, it is feared, might spark a rise in organized crime
similar to that during Prohibition
.
An estimated 211 new pornographic films are made every week in the United States.
of obscenity
, which is rare. Bestiality, simulated rape, urination and defecation are deemed "obscene", and pornography depicting such acts is not legal or available legally in the United States, however such publications are widely available in the United States on the internet.
Pornographic materials may not be made available to minor
s. Some attempts at restricting pornography on the Internet
have been made, but most have been struck down by the courts.
Prosecution for and tolerance of pornography distribution varies widely from state to state and city to city.
involving minor
s engaged in sex acts, or posing in an obscene manner, is a crime
on the federal level punishable by a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years; this makes U.S. law on child porn some of the harshest in the world.
While child pornography is illegal, photographs of nudist children are not, creating some confusion as to where the legal line is drawn.
The law prohibiting simulated child pornography was struck down by the Supreme Court
in 2002 in the case Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
; however, this opinion seems to have been superseded by the adoption of the PROTECT Act of 2003
.
an hardcore pornography is dominated by a few pan-European producers and distributors, the most notable of which is the Private Media Group
. Most European countries also have local pornography producers, from Portugal (Naturalvideo) to Romania (Floyd-Agency), all of which compete with larger, international organizations with varying levels of success.
The once popular style of Euro-chic pornography created by directors Lasse Braun
, Joe d'Amato
, and Michel Gentil
has lost ground and the Pierre Woodman
style of video porn now attracts a larger audience. A few directors like Luca Damiano
, Mario Salieri
, and Alain Payet
have continued with the "older" cinematographic and dramatic styles that often distinguish European pornography from that of other cultures.
Throughout Europe, ostensibly private "stolen" videos, featuring celebrities
having sex, are very popular on the Internet and in the black market. It is unclear whether these videos were truly released without their participants' permission, or whether they constitute a type of publicity stunt
planned by the principals themselves, most of whom are TV and music stars. In recent years, starting with the Severina Vučković
"incident" in 2004, the country of Croatia has seen an explosion of these videos, causing a imitation by teenagers.
Many U.S.-based pornography websites distribute primarily European pornography, or porn which features actresses from primarily Eastern Europe
an countries. These actresses (often advertised as "Eurobabes") may conform more to a look usually seen in U.S. actresses than European ones, although they may still be considered to look "more natural" (European pornography typically de-emphasizes breast implants, among other aesthetic factors).
"youth-imperiling" materials or those which violate human dignity may not be displayed or sold to people under 16 years of age. Nudity
does not fall under this restriction.
in accordance with article 3 of the Media Act of December 7, 1999, the "pornographic materials" are defined as works of art, photographic reproductions of paintings, information and other materials the main content of which is the crude and undignified depiction of the anatomical and physiological aspects of sexual relations.
Pornography in Azerbaijan is easily and cheaply obtainable in Baku
, although not in most other places. Pornographic images, either printed or recorded may cause problems when crossing the border. Taking the soft-core materials should have no problems, but Azeri borders guards can require a few extra euros. Meanwhile the legal activity to combat child pornography
is governed by 1998 Rights of the Child Act, 1999 Media Act, the Plan of Measures to Solve the Problem of Homeless and Street Children and the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
. Production, distribution, promotion, exposition as well as possession with intent of distribution or promotion of pornographic materials or objects of pornographic nature is punished by Belorussian criminal law and results in compulsory community service, fine or up to 4 years of imprisonment.
, but child pornography is totally forbidden with legal pursuits. The different supports (magazines and DVD's) are essentially import products from Europe (France, Germany, the Netherlands) or North America. There is also a little local production, mostly amateur, but you can find sometimes professional names in the sector, like director-producer Dennis "Black Magic" Burkas, condemned in 2011 to four years prison for the rape of a 15 years old girl ( see : http://www.dhnet.be/infos/faits-divers/article/347859/dennis-black-magic-condamne-a-quatre-ans-pour-le-viol-d-une-adolescente.html ).
in 1989, and local editions of many international porn magazines are published. Society is often exposed to sexual content in commercials and ads.
However, porn production and distribution is illegal in Bulgaria
. Before 2007 law was unclear about what is pornography. All porn movie shootings including cams and online sex are illegal. There are no Bulgarian porn production companies.
The penalty for porn production or distribution is up to one year imprisonment (or up to two years if criminal was used Internet) and a fine of 1000 BGN to 3000 BGN. The penalty for distribution or possession of child pornography is up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 2000 BGN.
. Hardcore pornographic material may not be sold to persons under the age of 18. Distribution or possession of child pornography or pornography involving minors (under 18) is illegal and punishable by a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
, in fact many videos are shot in the Prague area by foreign directors.
became the first country in the world to legalize pornography. People in Denmark have free access to pornography; it is sold in most convenience stores, and is available for purchase or rental in practically every video store, including Blockbuster. Pornography including minors younger than 18 years is prohibited, even possession is illegal.
, child, violent, and bestial pornography is banned. It is legal to sell pornography in any store, but magazines may not be sold to buyers under 15 years of age, and hardcore is restricted to buyers 18 years or older.
Prior to 1 January 1999, all indecent publishing, including the import and export thereof, was banned.
porn is legal. Hardcore porn must not be sold to minors under the age of 18. Softcore porn is allowed for people 16 and over. Extremely violent or graphic pornography is considered X-rated
, and so may be shown only in specific theaters, and may not be displayed to minors
. Some pornography has a special VAT: a 33% tax is levied on X-rated movies, and a 50% excise is placed on pornographic online services. The ratings system has caused controversy; e.g., in 2000 the sexually explicit and violent Baise-moi
was initially rated only as "restricted" by the French government. This classification was overturned by a Conseil d'État ruling in a lawsuit brought by associations supporting Christian
and family values
. Notice that some movies are forbidden to minors under 18, without the X rating, like Baise Moi, Ken Park
or Saw 3, so that these movies can be viewed in theaters and not attract the value-added tax.
, especially when compared to very liberal laws about softcore pornography, prostitution
and sex shops. Providing hardcore pornography to a person under 18 is illegal, and shops selling it must keep people under the age of 18 from entering their premises. If only a part of the shop is dedicated to pornography, it must be completely closed off from the rest of the premises. Alternatively, shops may choose not to display their goods or advertise that they sell them, in which case minors may be admitted. Websites hosting pornographic material within Germany
must comply with very strict rules about verifying that viewers are over 18.
Germany
has a very broad definition of child pornography, which includes images of all real or fictional people who either are under the age of 18 or who appear to be below 18 to an "average viewer". Distribution of such material is prohibited, although possession is only banned if the material shows a real person below 18. But the law differentiates between child pornography (under age of 14, § 184b criminal code) and youth pornography (14 to under 18, § 184c criminal code). Pornography involving violence or bestiality may not be produced or distributed, but is legal to possess.
softcore magazines, calendars, and decks of cards are sold openly at roadside kiosks and tourist shops. Hard core pornography is also freely distributed in convenience stores, kiosks and video stores and can also be shown in encrypted channels and adult cinemas. Some years ago hardcore pornography DVDs were given as a gift with some Greek newspapers, but later this practice was stopped by the state. Selling pornographic material to people under 18 years old is illegal, but in practice the law is not always enforced. Child pornography is strictly illegal. There are no other restrictions to pornography distribution and possession. The legal status about local porn DVDs productions was uncertain until 2008 and at that time there were only rare amateur productions. In 2008 the first legal pornographic company in Greece was established and in one of its films in 2010, the famous Greek model Julia Alexandratou
performed in a hard core scene making a scandal in Greek show-biz.
pornography is illegal if sold or shown to children under 18 years of age. However, displaying the genitals openly, as on the cover of a magazine, is not prohibited.
, and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 6 months. Publication of child pornography is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
has censorship boards with the power to ban the importation, sale, or distribution of individual publications and films. At one time, the official list of banned books ran into the thousands, though in recent years, and particularly since the mid 1990s, almost no publications or films have been banned, and those that were previously banned are now permitted. Pornographic movies are restricted to viewers 18 and over.
Other than regulations regarding pornographic movies, no laws against pornography, other than child pornography (a child is defined as someone under 17), exist.
, it is illegal to distribute pictorial or video pornography to persons under the age of 18. Hardcore
and softcore
movies and magazines are available not only through sex shops, but also in normal video stores, newsstands, certain gas stations and vending machines.
, the distribution of pornographic material is allowed under very similar legal conditions as in Poland. Pornographic or erotic material is rarely to never sold in places accessible to general public.
, commercial distribution of pornographic material is prohibited by the Article 309 of the country's Criminal Code which states that "A person who, for the purpose of distribution, produces or acquires pornographic material or distributes such material shall be punished by community service or by a fine or by restriction of liberty or by imprisonment for a term of up to one year.".
Erotic material, however, does not fall into this category and is widely accessible in shops and supermarkets.
. Magazines, photographs, and DVDs may be legally distributed to persons aged 18 and older. Common magazines with a healthy distribution pattern include Hustler
and Whitehouse
. Erotic material, such as the Playboy
magazine, has a longer history in the country, and is therefore more widely available in shops and at newsagents.
The sale, production, possession, and/or distribution of child pornography or bestiality is strictly forbidden. It carries a prison sentence, as does providing pornographic material to persons under the age of universal suffrage (18). It is worth noting that there is currently no ban on the possession and/or distribution of violent pornography, although such items may be, in practice, impossible to acquire.
Research has shown that the Internet remains the Islands' main revenue for pornography. Pornography, or even films with questionable sexual content, is not shown on any of the nation's broadcasting networks.
With the exception of a handful of recent films featuring mostly foreign actors, and some films produced in the 70s and 80s, the nation does not generally produce or publish pornography of any sort.
, a photograph or film of a sexual act involving or seemingly involving a minor (someone under age 18), or a human and an animal, is illegal. Otherwise, Dutch law is permissive, and magazines and other print copy are sold openly at newsstands. Access to theaters showing softcore porn is restricted to those 16 and older; to theaters that show hardcore, one must be 18 to enter.
, hardcore material was illegal for years de jure
to produce, distribute, or sell, but legal to possess. One could acquire it abroad, on the Internet, or via satellite TV. Illegal porn shops also existed, especially in larger cities. To satisfy legal requirements, editors of erotic magazines, domestic TV channels, and cable TV obscured sexual organs in activity using black rectangles and the like. However, after the Norwegian Supreme Court unanimously acquitted a former magazine editor on 7 December 2005 for publishing unobscured hardcore pornography in 2002, it became understood that printed hardcore pornography was no longer illegal. Pornographic magazines and movies were introduced in general stores in 2006. Regular and cable TV tend to abide by the old standards, and is not yet clear if the Supreme Court decision will affect television.
The depiction of illegal sexual activities, including those involving children, animals, necrophilia, rape, violence, or the use of force, remains illegal.
, as of September 1998, Article 202 of the national Penal Code makes pornography legal except for the production or possession of pornographic materials containing minors, bestiality (zoophilia), and “scenes of violence/rape”. Also illegal is presenting or showing pornographic materials to people who do not want to have any contact with them, and to persons under 18 years of age. Pornographic magazines and movies are sold in transparent plastic bags openly in kiosks, gas stations, etc..
, hardcore pornographic movies can only be shown in adult cinemas. Videos and magazines are openly sold in newsstands but are forbidden by law to be supplied to minors of 18 years. Additionally, hardcore pornographic movies are banned from open-channel TV and can only be broadcast through encrypted/pay-per-view
channels. Child pornography is illegal.
. Magazines must be enclosed in plastic bags (or something equivalent) with a small red square printed on the enclosing material. Pornographic TV channels offered by cable operators must be encrypted. Pornographic materials cannot be sold to minors under 18. Also, porn actors and actresses must be at least 18 years of age.
is uncertain. The law criminalizes only the 'illegal' production and selling of pornography (which implies that it sometimes can be legal), but two circumstances make enforcement of the law difficult: (1) the lack of a legal definition of pornography, and (2) no law defining when production or selling is legal.
Production, distribution, or public demonstration of child pornography (i.e., of children below 18 years of age) is a crime punishable by imprisonment. Possession of child porn is not a crime, if there is no intent to distribute or exhibit it.
is legal, and enforcement of obscenity laws is lax. It is illegal to display pornographic material at newsstands, but the great majority do so. In many city centers sex shops may be found. E-commerce merchants from all around the world use I.P.S.P. (Internet clearing services) from Spanish banks. The headquarters of Private Media Group
, Europe's biggest pornographic company, are in Barcelona
.
Pornography is forbidden in all forms to those under 18 years old.
It is illegal for people under the age of 18 to act or pose for pornography. Pornography depicting children, both drawn, filmed and photographed, is illegal, even if the material was legal in the originating country.
, which is a secular state
with a Muslim majority, was the first country to legally produce pornographic materials in the Muslim world
. After a long period of producing Italian-inspired softcore comedies in the 1970s, the hardcore film Öyle Bir Kadın Ki
was distributed in 1979.
will result in a fine or a three year jail sentence. Porn that is only for medical purposes is allowed.
, the main legislation on pornographic materials is the Obscene Publications Act 1959
, the Obscene Publications Act 1964, and the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981
. Video-oriented depictions of hardcore material (with certain exceptions for works considered primarily 'artistic' rather than pornographic) were illegal until 1999, when the removal of trade barriers with other European Union
member states allowed for the relatively free movement of such goods for personal use. R18-rated
videos are only available in licensed sex shops, but hardcore pornographic magazines are available in shops selling newspapers and magazines. In 2008, the Crown Prosecution Service
prosecuted a man under the Obscene Publications Act for a textual story on a pornography website involving Girls Aloud
. Also that year, the Home Office
introduced legislation to criminalize possession of what it has labelled extreme pornography
; these laws are now contained in sections 63 to 68 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
.
Child pornography is illegal ("child" is defined as a person under 18) to possess, produce (in terms of electronic copies), or to distribute, and is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. In England and Wales
, the law on this type of material is strictly defined by the Protection of Children Act 1978
, Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, further amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
to include pseudo-photographs, and the Sexual Offences Act 2003
which raised the age for appearing in pornographic material from 16 to 18 (while the age of consent in the UK remains 16). Sale of pornography is restricted to adults. In Scotland
, similar provisions are to be found in sections 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
, which was also amended by the 1994 Act and by the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005
.
) is illegal. The punishment for both is execution.
effective 2002, when state censors issued guidelines requiring that all websites remove any pornographic material. Enforcement is strict and the laws are inflexible, with the government stance being hard-line opposition to pornography. The government started a crackdown in 2004, which included the jailing of a woman.
Since 2008, the production of pornographic movies has been banned by state censors, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's prohibition on pornography has been complete, and the government has shown no signs of changing course. Directors, producers, and actors involved in pornographic movies have been barred from competing in any film competitions. Any movie studio
found in violation may have its license revoked. As a result of this regulation and censorship, adult films and media can only obtained through the Internet and on the black market. Possession of pornography is punishable by up to 3 years in prison, a fine of 20,000 yuan, or even execution for large underground distributors. In 2010 China shut down 60 000 porn sites according to reuters, netting almost 5,000 suspects in the process.
, pornography is illegal if sold or shown to children under 18 years of age, if it is publicly displayed (except within the confines of and only visible from inside a "bona fide art gallery or museum"), or if it is sold without being wrapped completely with an "easily noticeable" warning stating that the material may be offensive and may not be distributed to minors.
and anime
remain largely unregulated, although large publishers tend to self-censor or specify that characters are at least 18 years of age.
The 1960s, in Japanese pornography, was the era of the independent Pink film. In the years since the end of World War II
, eroticism had been gradually making its way into Japanese cinema. The first kiss to be seen in Japanese film—discreetly half-hidden by an umbrella—caused a national sensation in 1946
. Nevertheless, until the early 1960s, graphic depictions of nudity and sex in Japanese film could only be seen in single-reel "stag films," made illegally by underground film producers such as those depicted in Imamura
's film The Pornographers
(1966
).
Nudity and sex would officially enter the Japanese cinema with the independent, low-budget softcore pornographic films which would come to dominate domestically produced films in the 1960s and 1970s. These films were called eroductions during the early 1960s, but are now more commonly referred to as pink films. The first true pink film, and the first Japanese movie with nude scenes, was Satoru Kobayashi
's controversial and popular independent production, Flesh Market (Nikutai no Ichiba, 1962
), starring Tamaki Katori
. Katori would go on to star in over 600 pink films throughout the 1960s, earning the nickname the "Pink Princess".
In 1964
Tetsuji Takechi
made the first big-budget, mainstream pink film, Daydream
. Takechi would remake Daydream as Japan's first theatrical hardcore film in 1981
, starring Kyoko Aizome
.
Future "Nikkatsu Queens" Kazuko Shirakawa
and Naomi Tani
both made their debuts in 1967. Both actresses would appear in many pink films in the 1960s before beginning their work with Nikkatsu
in the 1970s, for which they best known today. By the end of the 1960s, Naomi Tani was already known as the "Queen of Pink."
The 1970s was the era of big-studio softcore pornography in Japan. Facing bankruptcy, Japan's major studios took over the pink film market. In 1971 Toei
entered the sexploitation market with its "Pinky Violence" series, and Nikkatsu, Japan's oldest major film studio, started its Roman Porno line of pink films. As the popular star of Toei's sukeban
(delinquent girl boss) series, Reiko Ike
became one of the "icons of Pinky Violence." With its high production values, professional acting talent and talented directors like Tatsumi Kumashiro
, Noboru Tanaka
, Masaru Konuma
and Koyu Ohara
, Nikkatsu produced nothing but these often critically acclaimed and award-winning softcore pornographic films for the next 17 years. This introduction of pornography into mainstream Japanese movie theaters has been credited with saving Nikkatsu from collapse at that time. Nikkatsu created a "Queen" ranking for its leading Roman Porno actresses. Kazuko Shirakawa, Junko Miyashita
, and Naomi Tani
were the leading Nikkatsu queens of the 1970s.
The 1980s were a period of transition in adult entertainment in Japan. With the widespread private ownership of VCRs, theatrical pornographic films had a new competitor for adult audiences in the form of the Adult Video (AV). By 1982 the AVs had already attained an approximately equal share of the adult entertainment market with theatrical erotic films. Early AV performers were often struggling actresses who could not find work in the theatrical Roman Porno films and girls from the soapland
s. By the late 1980s, prominent AV actresses like Hitomi Kobayashi
and Kaoru Kuroki
were becoming multi-media stars, and creating a mainstream image for AVs and pornographic actresses. Though traditionally not partial to large breasts, in the mid-1980s busty models suddenly become popular in Japan. In 1989, the "Big Bust Boom" (巨乳ブーム - "Kyonyu Buumu") was set "on fire" with the AV debut of Kimiko Matsuzaka
, leading to a "Big Bust" genre in Japanese adult entertainment.
Japan is the largest producer of pornography in Asia
. The Japanese pornography industry features more natural looking women, usually wearing little makeup. In Japan, fetish
pornography has a panoply of variations, ranging from well-known bukkake to tamakeri
.
. Also import of obscene or indecent books, magazines, films, pictures and other articles of such nature is strictly prohibited. However shops selling these prohibited pornographic articles can be found in Taiwan. Pornographic DVD's and VCD's sold in these shops do tend to be copies. Contradictory, some Taiwan companies and American companies based in Taiwan do manufacture pornographic DVD's for export to the U.S. Prostitution is no longer illegal in Taiwan. Many KTV are operating as a cover for prostitution, as well many Japanese gentlemen clubs can be found in Taipei. Taiwan is clearing up indecency. An example are the betel nut girls sellers, who are no longer allowed to dress sexily while selling their products.
materials in Indonesian media are rare. Current laws prohibits the selling and buying of pornographic materials.
There is a Undang-Undang Anti-Pornografi (The Law of Anti-Pornography), but this has become controversial as it is seen to objectify women, and it can affect the local culture including some traditional art. What was concerned in that RUU such as child abuse is already recognized in KUHP (Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana)
Pornography in Indonesia is prohibited in terms of creating, distribution, selling, and rental of explicit materials. On October 30, 2008, the People's Representative Council
passed Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
which is aimed at preventing pornography on widespread Indonesian media. A controversial material from the bill was a definition of pornography. In 2010 the anti-pornography law was challenged but Indonesia's Constitutional Court upheld the ban and stated that the law's definition of pornography was clear and did not violate the constitution.
Condom shops selling sex toys and many sex-related products are illegal in Malaysia. However there are some shops selling them discreetly and can only be found in major towns and cities such as Kuala Lumpur
, Penang
, Kuching
and Kota Kinabalu
.
groups and churches
, such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, more commonly the Roman Catholic Church
and many others. However, the current law does not specifically outlaw webcam sex sites, which are often based in the Philippines. Plus enforcement is lax, and pornography is available often through black markets and the Internet. There are also some areas in Metropolitan Manila that are publicly known to sell these kinds of films.
Despite the existing laws, some reports claim that the Philippines' Porn Industry is now earning around $1 Billion annually, making it the 8th largest porn industry in the world and 4th in Asia. This also means that it currently holds the top rank in the whole Southeast Asia
. This is given the fact that almost every month, the OMB confiscates hundreds of thousands of counterfeit VCDs and DVDs. From January to September 2008, the OMB has confiscated 4,807,012 CDs costing P1.4 billion ($29,400,000 based on the prevailing peso-dollar exchange rate in Sept. 17, 2008).
, although it is deemed illegal to provide and/or supply any form of pornography from within the country. It is also an offence to be in possession of pornographic material.
prohibit all types of pornography. Production, distribution and possession with an intention to show to the public are criminalized. However, possession for personal use is not illegal. The law enforcement is relatively lax. Other forms of pornography such as yaoi
and hentai
are illegal but common over the internet
.
in accordance with article 3 of the Media Act of December 7, 1999, the "pornographic materials" are defined as works of art, photographic reproductions of paintings, information and other materials the main content of which is the crude and undignified depiction of the anatomical and physiological aspects of sexual relations.
Pornography in Azerbaijan is easily and cheaply obtainable in Baku
, although not in most other places. Pornographic images, either printed or recorded may cause problems when crossing the border. Taking the soft-core materials should have no problems, but Azeri borders guards can require a few extra euros. Meanwhile the legal activity to combat child pornography
is governed by 1998 Rights of the Child Act, 1999 Media Act, the Plan of Measures to Solve the Problem of Homeless and Street Children and the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
, where many pornographic films are available in shopping plazas. Reports from the press have also suggested that people have used digital camera
s to film sex scenes and sell copies in the black market, which many have been convicted of. The issue concerns most of the population of Bangladesh.
, pornography is illegal and attracts several penal provisions. However, enforcement is extremely lax and pornographic materials are easily available in public places. Softcore pornography and hardcore pornography
movies/photos are easily accessible through magazines, films, or Internet. The law also states that possessing and watching pornographic materials is legal, but production and distribution of pornography are prohibited.
Pornographic films in India are referred to as Blue Films and are available virtually anywhere; especially in areas where pirated material is already being sold. Despite the illegality, stores selling X-rated material are abundant in major cities, advertising openly and rarely are the laws enforced in this case. However in 2010 bombay high Court ruled that watching pornography is legal
In India, watching pornography is not uncommon though there may not be any authentic data to confirm this.
Section 67 of the "Information Technology Act" deals with "publishing obscene information in electronic form". This law has been interpreted to criminalize posting of pornographic content online. However, accessing of "obscene" content within one's privacy is not illegal. The IT Act was amended by the Parliament on 2008, and Section 67B was inserted which criminalizes browsing, downloading, creation, publishing child porn. Therefore while it is legal to watch adult porn, it has been made illegal to watch child porn. Child anime porn has not been explicitly criminalized.
. Pornographic movies are commonly referred to as Blue Print movies, Tripple(derived from Triple X), Tippi (for people in Sindh). Erotic dance is available in DVDS and CDs which are locally called Mujra
.
However, child pornography is considered to be illegal under the National Child Protection act and the punishments are very severe. This act covers the rights of children, but not pornography per se. Therefore, the same act cannot be used as an anti-pornographic law.
There is a plethora of pornographic material available throughout the country, in paper and electronic formats. Usually, these are sold undercover. There are also a number of locally produced amateur videos, which are available freely on the Internet. Due to the severity of punishments for child pornography (i.e. involving persons under the age of 18), it is uncommon to see material of that nature in Sri Lanka.
, pornographic films began to be produced in the 1990s, but most of the films were shot in the 2000s. Technically pornography is illegal since British Mandate for Palestine, but in fact at least since 1990's every large city in Israel have several sex shops.
, the possession of any type of pornography is illegal and is charged with a fine. Iranian made pornography is very limited but is existent. Due to the widespread Internet access and introduction of worldwide satellites, porn is easily accessible in Iran.
, pornographic films started to pop up with the introduction of Arabic pop music
and the beginning of secularism. It is illegal to produce or advertise any sort of pornographic film, though the law is lax to the extent that many Arabs from other parts of the Middle East come to purchase porn films and magazines (which are often packed in opaque bags) starring Lebanese and other Arab porn stars. Porn is also easily accessed from satellite television. There are also a couple Playboy Club
s in Beirut and various parts of Lebanon.
and ACT
. As the Australian constitution prohibits states from regulating interstate commerce, it is legal to purchase pornography from stores in either territory and bring it interstate. This law means the majority of Australian mail order operations for adult material operate from the ACT. Despite the illegality, stores selling X-rated material are abundant in major cities, advertising openly and rarely are the laws enforced in this case.
Ratings for the X18+ category were tightened in 2000 to ban material featuring some fetishes or which appeared to include minors. In 2007 the Howard Government made the possession of X18+ pornography illegal in some Aboriginal communities.
, rape
, bestiality, etc.) are classified as objectionable material by the law. Cyber units of the NZ Police actively target online child pornography rings. New Zealand law is permissive, and magazines and other print copy are sold openly at newsstands.
.
Distribution of pornography is regulated by the Films and Publications Act of 1996 which is enforced by the Films and Publications Board.
Production, costs, and pricing
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to industrial organization:Industrial organization – describes the behavior of firms in the marketplace with regard to production, pricing, employment and other decisions...
and distribution
Distribution (business)
Product distribution is one of the four elements of the marketing mix. An organization or set of organizations involved in the process of making a product or service available for use or consumption by a consumer or business user.The other three parts of the marketing mix are product, pricing,...
of pornographic movies are economic
Economy
An economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
activities of some importance. The exact size of the economy of pornography and the influence that it plays in political circles are matters of controversy. In many countries 18+ pornography
Pornography
Pornography or porn is the explicit portrayal of sexual subject matter for the purposes of sexual arousal and erotic satisfaction.Pornography may use any of a variety of media, ranging from books, magazines, postcards, photos, sculpture, drawing, painting, animation, sound recording, film, video,...
is legal to distribute and to produce; however there are often restrictions placed upon it.
Canada
Hardcore material is legal in Canada to anyone over the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province). Sales to persons under 18 (or 19) is prohibited, though persons of this age may own or possess porn. Most materials are sold in adult stores or on adult websites.Latin America
In Latin AmericaLatin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, the pornography industry is somewhat limited. However, pornography is abundant, especially pirate DVDs from the USA and Europe, which are present on the streets of most capitals in Latin America.
In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, all actors in pornographic films must be 18 or older; regular pornography (not involving bestiality/snuff) is legal when sold in public places (depictions of sex with animals and snuff are legal); magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
and DVD covers that depict genitalia must be hidden from public view; and pornography can only be sold to people 18 or older.
United States
In the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, pornography is a large industry that involves major entertainment companies such as Time Warner
Time Warner
Time Warner is one of the world's largest media companies, headquartered in the Time Warner Center in New York City. Formerly two separate companies, Warner Communications, Inc...
, which profits from pornography through its cable channels and in-room movies in hotels. Pornography distribution changed radically during the 1980s, with VHS
Videotape
A videotape is a recording of images and sounds on to magnetic tape as opposed to film stock or random access digital media. Videotapes are also used for storing scientific or medical data, such as the data produced by an electrocardiogram...
and cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
largely displacing X-rated theaters. VHS distribution, in turn, has been replaced by DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and Internet distribution for niche markets.
Pornography generates billions of dollars in sales in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
alone, and economists have suggested that it has now reached the point where the outlawing of the industry, which has been tried on occasion, could have a major negative economic impact. An outright ban, it is feared, might spark a rise in organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
similar to that during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
.
An estimated 211 new pornographic films are made every week in the United States.
Restriction
Publication of hardcore material is only illegal at the federal (national) level if it meets the Miller testMiller test
The Miller test , is the United States Supreme Court's test for determining whether speech or expression can be labeled obscene, in which case it is not protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and can be prohibited.-History and details:The Miller test was developed in the...
of obscenity
Obscenity
An obscenity is any statement or act which strongly offends the prevalent morality of the time, is a profanity, or is otherwise taboo, indecent, abhorrent, or disgusting, or is especially inauspicious...
, which is rare. Bestiality, simulated rape, urination and defecation are deemed "obscene", and pornography depicting such acts is not legal or available legally in the United States, however such publications are widely available in the United States on the internet.
Pornographic materials may not be made available to minor
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
s. Some attempts at restricting pornography on the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
have been made, but most have been struck down by the courts.
Prosecution for and tolerance of pornography distribution varies widely from state to state and city to city.
Child pornography
Producing child pornographyChild pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
involving minor
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
s engaged in sex acts, or posing in an obscene manner, is a crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
on the federal level punishable by a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 40 years; this makes U.S. law on child porn some of the harshest in the world.
While child pornography is illegal, photographs of nudist children are not, creating some confusion as to where the legal line is drawn.
The law prohibiting simulated child pornography was struck down by the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
in 2002 in the case Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition
Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, , struck down two overbroad provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 because they abridged "the freedom to engage in a substantial amount of lawful speech." The case was brought against the Government by the Free Speech Coalition, a "California...
; however, this opinion seems to have been superseded by the adoption of the PROTECT Act of 2003
PROTECT Act of 2003
The PROTECT Act of 2003 is a United States law with the stated intent of preventing child abuse. "PROTECT" is a "backronym" which stands for "Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today"....
.
Europe
EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an hardcore pornography is dominated by a few pan-European producers and distributors, the most notable of which is the Private Media Group
Private Media Group
Private Media Group, Inc. is a production and distribution company that distributes adult entertainment via print publications, DVDs, the internet, and mobile....
. Most European countries also have local pornography producers, from Portugal (Naturalvideo) to Romania (Floyd-Agency), all of which compete with larger, international organizations with varying levels of success.
The once popular style of Euro-chic pornography created by directors Lasse Braun
Lasse Braun
Lasse Braun is an Italian pornographer, film director, producer, screenwriter, novelist and researcher.- Introduction :...
, Joe d'Amato
Joe D'Amato
Joe D'Amato, was a prolific Italian filmmaker who directed roughly 200 films, usually at the same time acting as producer and cinematographer, and sometimes providing the script as well...
, and Michel Gentil
Jean Rollin
Jean Michel Rollin Roth Le Gentil was a French film director, actor, and novelist best known for his films in the fantastique genre such as the vampire film Le Viol du Vampire and the first French gore film Les Raisins de la Mort .-Early life:Jean Rollin was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine , France to...
has lost ground and the Pierre Woodman
Pierre Woodman
Pierre Woodman is a pornographic film director. He is the creator of more than 65 pornographic films, more than 2,000 hardcore scenes, around 1,500 photosets and more than 7,000 castings.-Early life:...
style of video porn now attracts a larger audience. A few directors like Luca Damiano
Luca Damiano
Luca Damiano is an Italian film director who began his career as an assistant to Vittorio de Sica...
, Mario Salieri
Mario Salieri
Mario Salieri, born Mario Altieri, on November 29, 1957 in Naples, is an Italian porn director. He started with semi-amateur films in Amsterdam for the Italian market. Since early 1990s he has directed and written many porn titles with divas like Zara Whites and the Italian actress Selen. He is...
, and Alain Payet
Alain Payet
Alain Payet , also known under the pseudonyms John Love, John Pardaillan, John and Frederick Brasil Amor, James Gardner, James Gartner, Alain Garnier was a film director of French porn movies and erotica.- Biography :He began his career in 70s and for a decade served as an assistant director on...
have continued with the "older" cinematographic and dramatic styles that often distinguish European pornography from that of other cultures.
Throughout Europe, ostensibly private "stolen" videos, featuring celebrities
Celebrity sex tape
A celebrity sex tape is typically an amateur pornographic video recording involving one or more celebrity famous person which has been, intentionally or unintentionally, made available publicly....
having sex, are very popular on the Internet and in the black market. It is unclear whether these videos were truly released without their participants' permission, or whether they constitute a type of publicity stunt
Publicity stunt
A publicity stunt is a planned event designed to attract the public's attention to the event's organizers or their cause. Publicity stunts can be professionally organized or set up by amateurs...
planned by the principals themselves, most of whom are TV and music stars. In recent years, starting with the Severina Vučković
Severina Vuckovic
Severina Vučković is a Croatian singer and actress. She is commonly referred to by her stage name Severina.- Music career :Severina's style can be described as pop with various folk and cabaret influences. As a child, she took smaller parts in theatre and opera productions in her native Split...
"incident" in 2004, the country of Croatia has seen an explosion of these videos, causing a imitation by teenagers.
Many U.S.-based pornography websites distribute primarily European pornography, or porn which features actresses from primarily Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
an countries. These actresses (often advertised as "Eurobabes") may conform more to a look usually seen in U.S. actresses than European ones, although they may still be considered to look "more natural" (European pornography typically de-emphasizes breast implants, among other aesthetic factors).
Austria
In AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
"youth-imperiling" materials or those which violate human dignity may not be displayed or sold to people under 16 years of age. Nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
does not fall under this restriction.
Azerbaijan
In AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in accordance with article 3 of the Media Act of December 7, 1999, the "pornographic materials" are defined as works of art, photographic reproductions of paintings, information and other materials the main content of which is the crude and undignified depiction of the anatomical and physiological aspects of sexual relations.
Pornography in Azerbaijan is easily and cheaply obtainable in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, although not in most other places. Pornographic images, either printed or recorded may cause problems when crossing the border. Taking the soft-core materials should have no problems, but Azeri borders guards can require a few extra euros. Meanwhile the legal activity to combat child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
is governed by 1998 Rights of the Child Act, 1999 Media Act, the Plan of Measures to Solve the Problem of Homeless and Street Children and the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Belarus
Pornography is illegal in BelarusBelarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
. Production, distribution, promotion, exposition as well as possession with intent of distribution or promotion of pornographic materials or objects of pornographic nature is punished by Belorussian criminal law and results in compulsory community service, fine or up to 4 years of imprisonment.
Belgium
Pornography is legal in BelgiumBelgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, but child pornography is totally forbidden with legal pursuits. The different supports (magazines and DVD's) are essentially import products from Europe (France, Germany, the Netherlands) or North America. There is also a little local production, mostly amateur, but you can find sometimes professional names in the sector, like director-producer Dennis "Black Magic" Burkas, condemned in 2011 to four years prison for the rape of a 15 years old girl ( see : http://www.dhnet.be/infos/faits-divers/article/347859/dennis-black-magic-condamne-a-quatre-ans-pour-le-viol-d-une-adolescente.html ).
Bulgaria
Authorities tolerate illegal distribution of hardcore porn in designated shops, and on TV after 11 pm. Softcore material is rarely censored. Magazines and pornographic papers have become increasingly available since the fall of communismCommunism
Communism is a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of a classless, moneyless, revolutionary and stateless socialist society structured upon common ownership of the means of production...
in 1989, and local editions of many international porn magazines are published. Society is often exposed to sexual content in commercials and ads.
However, porn production and distribution is illegal in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
. Before 2007 law was unclear about what is pornography. All porn movie shootings including cams and online sex are illegal. There are no Bulgarian porn production companies.
The penalty for porn production or distribution is up to one year imprisonment (or up to two years if criminal was used Internet) and a fine of 1000 BGN to 3000 BGN. The penalty for distribution or possession of child pornography is up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 2000 BGN.
Croatia
Pornography is legal in CroatiaCroatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
. Hardcore pornographic material may not be sold to persons under the age of 18. Distribution or possession of child pornography or pornography involving minors (under 18) is illegal and punishable by a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
Czech Republic
Pornography is legal in Czech RepublicCzech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, in fact many videos are shot in the Prague area by foreign directors.
Denmark
A ban on pornographic literature was lifted in 1967. In 1969, DenmarkDenmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
became the first country in the world to legalize pornography. People in Denmark have free access to pornography; it is sold in most convenience stores, and is available for purchase or rental in practically every video store, including Blockbuster. Pornography including minors younger than 18 years is prohibited, even possession is illegal.
Finland
In FinlandFinland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, child, violent, and bestial pornography is banned. It is legal to sell pornography in any store, but magazines may not be sold to buyers under 15 years of age, and hardcore is restricted to buyers 18 years or older.
Prior to 1 January 1999, all indecent publishing, including the import and export thereof, was banned.
France
In FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
porn is legal. Hardcore porn must not be sold to minors under the age of 18. Softcore porn is allowed for people 16 and over. Extremely violent or graphic pornography is considered X-rated
X-rated
In some countries, X is or has been a motion picture rating reserved for the most explicit films. Films rated X are intended only for viewing by adults, usually legally defined as people over the age of 17.-United Kingdom:...
, and so may be shown only in specific theaters, and may not be displayed to minors
Minor (law)
In law, a minor is a person under a certain age — the age of majority — which legally demarcates childhood from adulthood; the age depends upon jurisdiction and application, but is typically 18...
. Some pornography has a special VAT: a 33% tax is levied on X-rated movies, and a 50% excise is placed on pornographic online services. The ratings system has caused controversy; e.g., in 2000 the sexually explicit and violent Baise-moi
Baise-moi
Baise-moi is a French film co-directed by Virginie Despentes and Coralie Trinh Thi, released in 2000. It is based on the novel by Despentes, first published in 1999. The film received intense media coverage because of its graphic mix of violence and explicit sex scenes...
was initially rated only as "restricted" by the French government. This classification was overturned by a Conseil d'État ruling in a lawsuit brought by associations supporting Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and family values
Family values
Family values are political and social beliefs that hold the nuclear family to be the essential ethical and moral unit of society. Familialism is the ideology that promotes the family and its values as an institution....
. Notice that some movies are forbidden to minors under 18, without the X rating, like Baise Moi, Ken Park
Ken Park
Ken Park is a 2002 drama film. The screenplay was written by Harmony Korine, who based it on Larry Clark's journals and stories. The film was directed by Larry Clark and Ed Lachman....
or Saw 3, so that these movies can be viewed in theaters and not attract the value-added tax.
Germany
German law is very strict about hardcore pornographyHardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
, especially when compared to very liberal laws about softcore pornography, prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and sex shops. Providing hardcore pornography to a person under 18 is illegal, and shops selling it must keep people under the age of 18 from entering their premises. If only a part of the shop is dedicated to pornography, it must be completely closed off from the rest of the premises. Alternatively, shops may choose not to display their goods or advertise that they sell them, in which case minors may be admitted. Websites hosting pornographic material within Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
must comply with very strict rules about verifying that viewers are over 18.
Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
has a very broad definition of child pornography, which includes images of all real or fictional people who either are under the age of 18 or who appear to be below 18 to an "average viewer". Distribution of such material is prohibited, although possession is only banned if the material shows a real person below 18. But the law differentiates between child pornography (under age of 14, § 184b criminal code) and youth pornography (14 to under 18, § 184c criminal code). Pornography involving violence or bestiality may not be produced or distributed, but is legal to possess.
Greece
In GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
softcore magazines, calendars, and decks of cards are sold openly at roadside kiosks and tourist shops. Hard core pornography is also freely distributed in convenience stores, kiosks and video stores and can also be shown in encrypted channels and adult cinemas. Some years ago hardcore pornography DVDs were given as a gift with some Greek newspapers, but later this practice was stopped by the state. Selling pornographic material to people under 18 years old is illegal, but in practice the law is not always enforced. Child pornography is strictly illegal. There are no other restrictions to pornography distribution and possession. The legal status about local porn DVDs productions was uncertain until 2008 and at that time there were only rare amateur productions. In 2008 the first legal pornographic company in Greece was established and in one of its films in 2010, the famous Greek model Julia Alexandratou
Julia Alexandratou
Julia Alexandratou is a Greek socialite, media personality, glamour model, singer, actress, and pornographic actress. In 2002, at age 16, she won the beauty pageant title "Miss Young" in Greece. Four years later, Alexandratou won the title "Miss Greece International 2006" at the Miss Star Hellas...
performed in a hard core scene making a scandal in Greek show-biz.
Hungary
In HungaryHungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
pornography is illegal if sold or shown to children under 18 years of age. However, displaying the genitals openly, as on the cover of a magazine, is not prohibited.
Iceland
Publication of pornography is illegal in IcelandIceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
, and is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 6 months. Publication of child pornography is punishable by a fine or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
Ireland
IrelandRepublic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
has censorship boards with the power to ban the importation, sale, or distribution of individual publications and films. At one time, the official list of banned books ran into the thousands, though in recent years, and particularly since the mid 1990s, almost no publications or films have been banned, and those that were previously banned are now permitted. Pornographic movies are restricted to viewers 18 and over.
Other than regulations regarding pornographic movies, no laws against pornography, other than child pornography (a child is defined as someone under 17), exist.
Italy
In ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, it is illegal to distribute pictorial or video pornography to persons under the age of 18. Hardcore
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
and softcore
Softcore
Softcore pornography is a form of filmic or photographic pornography or erotica that is less sexually explicit than hardcore pornography. It is intended to tickle and arouse men and women. Softcore pornography depicts nude and semi-nude performers engaging in casual social nudity or non-graphic...
movies and magazines are available not only through sex shops, but also in normal video stores, newsstands, certain gas stations and vending machines.
Latvia
In LatviaLatvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
, the distribution of pornographic material is allowed under very similar legal conditions as in Poland. Pornographic or erotic material is rarely to never sold in places accessible to general public.
Lithuania
In LithuaniaLithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, commercial distribution of pornographic material is prohibited by the Article 309 of the country's Criminal Code which states that "A person who, for the purpose of distribution, produces or acquires pornographic material or distributes such material shall be punished by community service or by a fine or by restriction of liberty or by imprisonment for a term of up to one year.".
Erotic material, however, does not fall into this category and is widely accessible in shops and supermarkets.
Malta
Despite not being widely available or distributed, the possession, distribution, and viewing of pornographic material of both the softcore and hardcore variety is legal on the Maltese IslandsMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. Magazines, photographs, and DVDs may be legally distributed to persons aged 18 and older. Common magazines with a healthy distribution pattern include Hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
and Whitehouse
Whitehouse.com
whitehouse.com was an adult and political entertainment website that first came online in 1997. According to a statement on the web, it was originally created by Ransom Scott as a place where uncensored discussion of government policies could occur before adult content was added to make it more...
. Erotic material, such as the Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine, has a longer history in the country, and is therefore more widely available in shops and at newsagents.
The sale, production, possession, and/or distribution of child pornography or bestiality is strictly forbidden. It carries a prison sentence, as does providing pornographic material to persons under the age of universal suffrage (18). It is worth noting that there is currently no ban on the possession and/or distribution of violent pornography, although such items may be, in practice, impossible to acquire.
Research has shown that the Internet remains the Islands' main revenue for pornography. Pornography, or even films with questionable sexual content, is not shown on any of the nation's broadcasting networks.
With the exception of a handful of recent films featuring mostly foreign actors, and some films produced in the 70s and 80s, the nation does not generally produce or publish pornography of any sort.
Netherlands
In the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, a photograph or film of a sexual act involving or seemingly involving a minor (someone under age 18), or a human and an animal, is illegal. Otherwise, Dutch law is permissive, and magazines and other print copy are sold openly at newsstands. Access to theaters showing softcore porn is restricted to those 16 and older; to theaters that show hardcore, one must be 18 to enter.
Norway
In NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, hardcore material was illegal for years de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
to produce, distribute, or sell, but legal to possess. One could acquire it abroad, on the Internet, or via satellite TV. Illegal porn shops also existed, especially in larger cities. To satisfy legal requirements, editors of erotic magazines, domestic TV channels, and cable TV obscured sexual organs in activity using black rectangles and the like. However, after the Norwegian Supreme Court unanimously acquitted a former magazine editor on 7 December 2005 for publishing unobscured hardcore pornography in 2002, it became understood that printed hardcore pornography was no longer illegal. Pornographic magazines and movies were introduced in general stores in 2006. Regular and cable TV tend to abide by the old standards, and is not yet clear if the Supreme Court decision will affect television.
The depiction of illegal sexual activities, including those involving children, animals, necrophilia, rape, violence, or the use of force, remains illegal.
Poland
In PolandPoland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, as of September 1998, Article 202 of the national Penal Code makes pornography legal except for the production or possession of pornographic materials containing minors, bestiality (zoophilia), and “scenes of violence/rape”. Also illegal is presenting or showing pornographic materials to people who do not want to have any contact with them, and to persons under 18 years of age. Pornographic magazines and movies are sold in transparent plastic bags openly in kiosks, gas stations, etc..
Portugal
In PortugalPortugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, hardcore pornographic movies can only be shown in adult cinemas. Videos and magazines are openly sold in newsstands but are forbidden by law to be supplied to minors of 18 years. Additionally, hardcore pornographic movies are banned from open-channel TV and can only be broadcast through encrypted/pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
channels. Child pornography is illegal.
Romania
Pornography is legal in RomaniaRomania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Magazines must be enclosed in plastic bags (or something equivalent) with a small red square printed on the enclosing material. Pornographic TV channels offered by cable operators must be encrypted. Pornographic materials cannot be sold to minors under 18. Also, porn actors and actresses must be at least 18 years of age.
Russia
The legal status of pornography in RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
is uncertain. The law criminalizes only the 'illegal' production and selling of pornography (which implies that it sometimes can be legal), but two circumstances make enforcement of the law difficult: (1) the lack of a legal definition of pornography, and (2) no law defining when production or selling is legal.
Production, distribution, or public demonstration of child pornography (i.e., of children below 18 years of age) is a crime punishable by imprisonment. Possession of child porn is not a crime, if there is no intent to distribute or exhibit it.
Serbia
Pornography is legal in Serbia. Hardcore pornographic material may not be sold to persons under the age of 18. Distribution or possession of child pornography or pornography involving minors (under 18) is illegal and punishable by law.Spain
Pornography in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
is legal, and enforcement of obscenity laws is lax. It is illegal to display pornographic material at newsstands, but the great majority do so. In many city centers sex shops may be found. E-commerce merchants from all around the world use I.P.S.P. (Internet clearing services) from Spanish banks. The headquarters of Private Media Group
Private Media Group
Private Media Group, Inc. is a production and distribution company that distributes adult entertainment via print publications, DVDs, the internet, and mobile....
, Europe's biggest pornographic company, are in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
Pornography is forbidden in all forms to those under 18 years old.
Sweden
Sweden has no age laws for the possession or viewing of pornography. Some shops follow a voluntary limit and do not sell to minors. Material that involves animals is de facto legal, though it is subject to animal-welfare laws. BDSM is classified as an "illegal depiction of violence," but the law is rarely enforced.It is illegal for people under the age of 18 to act or pose for pornography. Pornography depicting children, both drawn, filmed and photographed, is illegal, even if the material was legal in the originating country.
Turkey
TurkeyTurkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, which is a secular state
Secular state
A secular state is a concept of secularism, whereby a state or country purports to be officially neutral in matters of religion, supporting neither religion nor irreligion. A secular state also claims to treat all its citizens equally regardless of religion, and claims to avoid preferential...
with a Muslim majority, was the first country to legally produce pornographic materials in the Muslim world
Muslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
. After a long period of producing Italian-inspired softcore comedies in the 1970s, the hardcore film Öyle Bir Kadın Ki
Öyle Bir Kadin Ki
Öyle bir kadın ki is the first Turkish film which included a hardcore scene to be legally produced and distributed....
was distributed in 1979.
Ukraine
As of 30 June 2009, distribution and possession of pornography in UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
will result in a fine or a three year jail sentence. Porn that is only for medical purposes is allowed.
United Kingdom
In England and WalesEngland and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, the main legislation on pornographic materials is the Obscene Publications Act 1959
Obscene Publications Act 1959
The Obscene Publications Act 1959 is an Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom Parliament that significantly reformed the law related to obscenity. Prior to the passage of the Act, the law on publishing obscene materials was governed by the common law case of R v Hicklin, which had no exceptions...
, the Obscene Publications Act 1964, and the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981
Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981
The Indecent Displays Act is an Act of Parliament covering Scotland, England and Wales but not Northern Ireland. It is concerned with preventing the display of “indecent” material to the unsuspecting public. As with the Protection of Children Act, the Act does not define indecency, although it...
. Video-oriented depictions of hardcore material (with certain exceptions for works considered primarily 'artistic' rather than pornographic) were illegal until 1999, when the removal of trade barriers with other European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
member states allowed for the relatively free movement of such goods for personal use. R18-rated
R18 certificate
The R18 certificate represents a film or video classification given by the British Board of Film Classification . It is intended to provide a classification for works that are within British obscenity laws, but exceed what the BBFC considers acceptable for its 18 certificate...
videos are only available in licensed sex shops, but hardcore pornographic magazines are available in shops selling newspapers and magazines. In 2008, the Crown Prosecution Service
Crown Prosecution Service
The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. Its role is similar to that of the longer-established Crown Office in Scotland, and the...
prosecuted a man under the Obscene Publications Act for a textual story on a pornography website involving Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud
Girls Aloud are a British and Irish pop girl group based in London. They were created through the ITV1 talent show Popstars The Rivals in 2002. The group consists of Cheryl Cole , Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh. They are signed to Fascination Records, a Polydor...
. Also that year, the Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
introduced legislation to criminalize possession of what it has labelled extreme pornography
Extreme pornography
Section 63 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is a piece of legislation in the United Kingdom that criminalises possession of what it refers to as "extreme pornographic images". The law was enacted from 26 January 2009...
; these laws are now contained in sections 63 to 68 of the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008
The Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which makes significant changes in many areas of the criminal justice system in England and Wales and, to a lesser extent, in Scotland and Northern Ireland...
.
Child pornography is illegal ("child" is defined as a person under 18) to possess, produce (in terms of electronic copies), or to distribute, and is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. In England and Wales
England and Wales
England and Wales is a jurisdiction within the United Kingdom. It consists of England and Wales, two of the four countries of the United Kingdom...
, the law on this type of material is strictly defined by the Protection of Children Act 1978
Protection of Children Act 1978
The Protection of Children Act 1978 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.The Protection of Children Bill was put before Parliament as a Private Member's Bill by Cyril Townsend in the 1977-1978 session of Parliament....
, Section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, further amended by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It introduced a number of changes to the existing law, most notably in the restriction and reduction of existing rights and in greater penalties for certain "anti-social" behaviours...
to include pseudo-photographs, and the Sexual Offences Act 2003
Sexual Offences Act 2003
The Sexual Offences Act 2003 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland that was passed in 2003 and became law on 1 May 2004.It replaced older sexual offences laws with more specific and explicit wording...
which raised the age for appearing in pornographic material from 16 to 18 (while the age of consent in the UK remains 16). Sale of pornography is restricted to adults. In Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, similar provisions are to be found in sections 52 and 52A of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982
The Civic Government Act 1982 is an Act of the United Kingdom Parliament which makes provision for a wide range of civic government matters....
, which was also amended by the 1994 Act and by the Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005
Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2005
The Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences Act 2005 is an act of the Scottish Parliament. The Protection of Children and Prevention of Sexual Offences bill was announced to the parliament by the First Minister of Scotland, Jack McConnell, in September 2004. It was passed on 2...
.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Production and distribution of pornography in the DPRK (North KoreaNorth Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
) is illegal. The punishment for both is execution.
People's Republic of China
Internet pornography was outlawed in the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
effective 2002, when state censors issued guidelines requiring that all websites remove any pornographic material. Enforcement is strict and the laws are inflexible, with the government stance being hard-line opposition to pornography. The government started a crackdown in 2004, which included the jailing of a woman.
Since 2008, the production of pornographic movies has been banned by state censors, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television's prohibition on pornography has been complete, and the government has shown no signs of changing course. Directors, producers, and actors involved in pornographic movies have been barred from competing in any film competitions. Any movie studio
Movie studio
A movie studio is a term used to describe a major entertainment company or production company that has its own privately owned studio facility or facilities that are used to film movies...
found in violation may have its license revoked. As a result of this regulation and censorship, adult films and media can only obtained through the Internet and on the black market. Possession of pornography is punishable by up to 3 years in prison, a fine of 20,000 yuan, or even execution for large underground distributors. In 2010 China shut down 60 000 porn sites according to reuters, netting almost 5,000 suspects in the process.
Hong Kong
In Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, pornography is illegal if sold or shown to children under 18 years of age, if it is publicly displayed (except within the confines of and only visible from inside a "bona fide art gallery or museum"), or if it is sold without being wrapped completely with an "easily noticeable" warning stating that the material may be offensive and may not be distributed to minors.
Japan
As in Europe, photographs of nudes are not uncommon in the mainstream media. In the 1970s and 1980s, the strongest prohibition was against showing pubic hair or adult genitalia. Imported magazines would have the pubic hair scratched out, and even the most explicit videos could not portray it. Starting around 1991, photobook publishers began challenging this ban to the point where pubic hair is now fairly well accepted. Close-ups of genitalia remain proscribed. In 1999, the government enacted a law banning photos and videos of naked children, which were a fairly common sight in mainstream media before that time. MangaManga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
and anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
remain largely unregulated, although large publishers tend to self-censor or specify that characters are at least 18 years of age.
The 1960s, in Japanese pornography, was the era of the independent Pink film. In the years since the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, eroticism had been gradually making its way into Japanese cinema. The first kiss to be seen in Japanese film—discreetly half-hidden by an umbrella—caused a national sensation in 1946
1946 in film
The year 1946 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*November 21 - William Wyler's The Best Years of Our Lives premieres in New York featuring an ensemble cast including Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews, Teresa Wright, and Harold Russell.*December 20 - Frank Capra's It's a...
. Nevertheless, until the early 1960s, graphic depictions of nudity and sex in Japanese film could only be seen in single-reel "stag films," made illegally by underground film producers such as those depicted in Imamura
Shohei Imamura
was a Japanese film director. Imamura was the first Japanese director to win two Palme d'Or awards.His eldest son Daisuke Tengan is also a script writer and film director, and worked on the screenplays to Imamura's filmsThe Eel , Dr...
's film The Pornographers
The Pornographers
The Pornographers is a 1966 Japanese film directed by Shohei Imamura and based on a novel of the same name by Akiyuki Nosaka. Its original Japanese title is Erogotoshitachi yori Jinruigaku nyumon , which means 'An introduction to anthropology through the pornographers'. It tells the story of porn...
(1966
1966 in film
The year 1966 in film involved some significant events.-Events:Animation legend Walter Disney, well known for his creation of Mickey Mouse, died in 15 December 1966 of acute circulatory collapse following a diagnosis of, and surgery for, lung cancer...
).
Nudity and sex would officially enter the Japanese cinema with the independent, low-budget softcore pornographic films which would come to dominate domestically produced films in the 1960s and 1970s. These films were called eroductions during the early 1960s, but are now more commonly referred to as pink films. The first true pink film, and the first Japanese movie with nude scenes, was Satoru Kobayashi
Satoru Kobayashi (director)
was a Japanese film director most famous for directing the first pink film, the type of softcore pornographic films that became the most prolific film genre in Japan during the 1960s and 1970s...
's controversial and popular independent production, Flesh Market (Nikutai no Ichiba, 1962
1962 in film
The year 1962 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*May - The Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards are officially founded by the Taiwanese government....
), starring Tamaki Katori
Tamaki Katori
is a Japanese actress best known for her appearances in pink film during the 1960s and early 1970s. Katori was the star of Flesh Market , the first of these softcore pornographic films made in Japan...
. Katori would go on to star in over 600 pink films throughout the 1960s, earning the nickname the "Pink Princess".
In 1964
1964 in film
The year 1964 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 29 - The film Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is released....
Tetsuji Takechi
Tetsuji Takechi
was a Japanese theatrical and film director, critic and author. First coming to prominence for his theatrical criticism, in the 1940s and 1950s he produced influential and popular experimental kabuki plays. Beginning in the mid-1950s, he continued his innovative theatrical work in noh, kyōgen and...
made the first big-budget, mainstream pink film, Daydream
Daydream (1964 film)
is a 1964 Japanese Pink film. The first of these softcore pornographic films to have a big budget and a mainstream release in Japan, it was shown at the Venice Film Festival and given two releases in the United States. Director Tetsuji Takechi remade the film in hardcore versions in 1981 and 1987...
. Takechi would remake Daydream as Japan's first theatrical hardcore film in 1981
1981 in film
-Events:*January 19 - Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer acquires beleaguered concurrent United Artists. UA was humiliated by the astronomical losses on the $40,000,000 movie Heaven's Gate, a major factor in the decision of owner Transamerica to sell it....
, starring Kyoko Aizome
Kyoko Aizome
is a Japanese erotic actress, singer, AV director, and writer who has been called, "the first hard-core porn actress in Japan."-Early life:Kyōko Aizome was born on February 9, 1958 in Noda Chiba Prefecture. Aizome grew up in a troubled household. Her father was a police officer who beat his wife,...
.
Future "Nikkatsu Queens" Kazuko Shirakawa
Kazuko Shirakawa
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films during the 1970s. She appeared in Nikkatsu's first film in the Roman Porno series, Apartment Wife , and is considered the first of the three "Nikkatsu Queens" of the 1970s...
and Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
both made their debuts in 1967. Both actresses would appear in many pink films in the 1960s before beginning their work with Nikkatsu
Nikkatsu
is a Japanese entertainment company well known for its film and television productions. It is Japan's oldest major movie studio. The name Nikkatsu is an abbreviation of Nippon Katsudō Shashin, literally "Japan Cinematograph Company".-History:...
in the 1970s, for which they best known today. By the end of the 1960s, Naomi Tani was already known as the "Queen of Pink."
The 1970s was the era of big-studio softcore pornography in Japan. Facing bankruptcy, Japan's major studios took over the pink film market. In 1971 Toei
Toei Company
is a Japanese film, television production, and distribution corporation. Based in Tokyo, Toei owns and operates thirty-four movie theaters across Japan, a modest vertically-integrated studio system by the standards of the 1930s United States; operates studios at Tokyo and Kyoto; and is a...
entered the sexploitation market with its "Pinky Violence" series, and Nikkatsu, Japan's oldest major film studio, started its Roman Porno line of pink films. As the popular star of Toei's sukeban
Sukeban
means delinquent girl or boss girl in Japanese, equivalent to the male banchō. A dictionary of says that sukeban only refers to the leader of a girl gang, not any member of the girl gang.-Characteristics:...
(delinquent girl boss) series, Reiko Ike
Reiko Ike
, is a Japanese actress, singer, and entertainer. She is best known for her roles in the genre of action/erotic movies known as pink films. Ike also released an album of songs in 1971, Kôkotsu No Sekai...
became one of the "icons of Pinky Violence." With its high production values, professional acting talent and talented directors like Tatsumi Kumashiro
Tatsumi Kumashiro
was a Japanese film director best known for his critically acclaimed, award-winning Roman Porno films, such as Ichijo's Wet Lust and The Woman with Red Hair...
, Noboru Tanaka
Noboru Tanaka
was a Japanese film director best known known for his Roman Porno films, including three critically respected films known as the Showa trilogy: A Woman Called Sada Abe , Watcher in the Attic , and Beauty's Exotic Dance: Torture! , all three starring Nikkatsu Roman porno queen Junko Miyashita...
, Masaru Konuma
Masaru Konuma
is a Japanese director most famous for his Roman Porno films for Nikkatsu during the 1970s.-Early life:Masaru Konuma was born in Otaru, Hokkaidō, on December 30, 1937. Konuma retains no memories of his father who was a teacher...
and Koyu Ohara
Koyu Ohara
is a Japanese film director best known known for his popular Roman Porno films, Fairy in a Cage and the Pink Tush Girl series...
, Nikkatsu produced nothing but these often critically acclaimed and award-winning softcore pornographic films for the next 17 years. This introduction of pornography into mainstream Japanese movie theaters has been credited with saving Nikkatsu from collapse at that time. Nikkatsu created a "Queen" ranking for its leading Roman Porno actresses. Kazuko Shirakawa, Junko Miyashita
Junko Miyashita
is a Japanese actress who had a long and varied career working both in pink film and mainstream cinema.- Career :Junko Miyashita was born in Tokyo on January 29, 1949. She was working as a waitress at a coffee shop when she was recruited to work in Pink films....
, and Naomi Tani
Naomi Tani
is a Japanese actress who is best known for her appearances in Nikkatsu's Roman Porno films with an S&M theme during the 1970s.-Early career:Born October 20, 1948, in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka, Naomi Tani moved to Tokyo at the age of 18. After arrival in Tokyo, she was featured in a photo layout...
were the leading Nikkatsu queens of the 1970s.
The 1980s were a period of transition in adult entertainment in Japan. With the widespread private ownership of VCRs, theatrical pornographic films had a new competitor for adult audiences in the form of the Adult Video (AV). By 1982 the AVs had already attained an approximately equal share of the adult entertainment market with theatrical erotic films. Early AV performers were often struggling actresses who could not find work in the theatrical Roman Porno films and girls from the soapland
Soapland
A ' is a Japanglish and indicates a paradise for men in Japanese. It is said, since in Japan prostitution is officially prohibited by the government, that it is a type of brothel in Japan where male clients can engage in sexual activity with female prostitutes, although officially the clubs do...
s. By the late 1980s, prominent AV actresses like Hitomi Kobayashi
Hitomi Kobayashi
is an important early Japanese AV idol. One of the founding figures of the Japanese adult video, she has been called indispensable to any discussion of the AV...
and Kaoru Kuroki
Kaoru Kuroki
, is a former adult video performer and a multi-media personality whose role as a media counselor expressing outspoken views on sex and society have drawn comparisons to La Cicciolina and Dr. Ruth.- Early life :...
were becoming multi-media stars, and creating a mainstream image for AVs and pornographic actresses. Though traditionally not partial to large breasts, in the mid-1980s busty models suddenly become popular in Japan. In 1989, the "Big Bust Boom" (巨乳ブーム - "Kyonyu Buumu") was set "on fire" with the AV debut of Kimiko Matsuzaka
Kimiko Matsuzaka
is a Japanese AV idol who was prominent during the late-1980s and early-1990s noted for her large breasts. An authority on the AV industry points to Matsuzaka's career as the beginning of the "Big Bust Boom" in Japan.- AV Debut :...
, leading to a "Big Bust" genre in Japanese adult entertainment.
Japan is the largest producer of pornography in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. The Japanese pornography industry features more natural looking women, usually wearing little makeup. In Japan, fetish
Sexual fetishism
Sexual fetishism, or erotic fetishism, is the sexual arousal a person receives from a physical object, or from a specific situation. The object or situation of interest is called the fetish, the person a fetishist who has a fetish for that object/situation. Sexual fetishism may be regarded, e.g...
pornography has a panoply of variations, ranging from well-known bukkake to tamakeri
Tamakeri
Tamakeri is a sexual fetish and sub-genre in which a female kicks, knees, punches, grabs or twists a man's testicles. This act is shown in some Japanese horror films, such as Busted Balls....
.
Republic of China (Taiwan)
The sale or display of pornographic material is illegal in the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. Also import of obscene or indecent books, magazines, films, pictures and other articles of such nature is strictly prohibited. However shops selling these prohibited pornographic articles can be found in Taiwan. Pornographic DVD's and VCD's sold in these shops do tend to be copies. Contradictory, some Taiwan companies and American companies based in Taiwan do manufacture pornographic DVD's for export to the U.S. Prostitution is no longer illegal in Taiwan. Many KTV are operating as a cover for prostitution, as well many Japanese gentlemen clubs can be found in Taipei. Taiwan is clearing up indecency. An example are the betel nut girls sellers, who are no longer allowed to dress sexily while selling their products.
Brunei
Due to the high number of expatriates in this country, pornography from various regions such as the Americas, Africa and Europe are easily available in retail shops known as 'kedai runcit'. However, it is illegal to sell to minors, and it is illegal to produce pornography unless for personal use.Indonesia
Pornographic material is prohibited by law from the KUHP, the law controlling pornography concerns over the potential danger of criminal offence by pornography as well as preventing under age citizens exposed to pornography. SuggestiveIndecent exposure
Indecent exposure is the deliberate exposure in public or in view of the general public by a person of a portion or portions of his or her body, in circumstances where the exposure is contrary to local moral or other standards of appropriate behavior. Indecent exposure laws vary in different...
materials in Indonesian media are rare. Current laws prohibits the selling and buying of pornographic materials.
There is a Undang-Undang Anti-Pornografi (The Law of Anti-Pornography), but this has become controversial as it is seen to objectify women, and it can affect the local culture including some traditional art. What was concerned in that RUU such as child abuse is already recognized in KUHP (Kitab Undang-undang Hukum Pidana)
Pornography in Indonesia is prohibited in terms of creating, distribution, selling, and rental of explicit materials. On October 30, 2008, the People's Representative Council
People's Representative Council
The People's Representative Council , sometimes referred to as the House of Representatives, is one of two elected national legislative assemblies in Indonesia....
passed Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
Bill against Pornography and Pornoaction
The Bill against Pornography and Porno-Action was a bill proposed by the Indonesian legislative assembly, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat on February 14, 2006....
which is aimed at preventing pornography on widespread Indonesian media. A controversial material from the bill was a definition of pornography. In 2010 the anti-pornography law was challenged but Indonesia's Constitutional Court upheld the ban and stated that the law's definition of pornography was clear and did not violate the constitution.
Malaysia
In Malaysia, it is illegal to sell or possess pornography. Possessing pornographic material is subject to prosecution with fine up to RM10,000. Internet pornography-viewing however is not a crime under the Multimedia Act and is rarely censored. There are numerous pornographic websites aim to cater for Malaysian audiences. The materials depicted in the websites are normally the home videos made by amateurs.Condom shops selling sex toys and many sex-related products are illegal in Malaysia. However there are some shops selling them discreetly and can only be found in major towns and cities such as Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, Kuching
Kuching
Kuching , officially the City of Kuching, and formerly the City of Sarawak, is the capital and most populous city of the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is the largest city on the island of Borneo, and the fourth largest city in Malaysia....
and Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu , formerly known as Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah state in East Malaysia. It is also the capital of the West Coast Division of Sabah. The city is located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. The Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park lies on one side and Mount...
.
Philippines
Any kind of pornography is illegal in the Philippines. This is due to the influence of conservative ChristianChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
groups and churches
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
, such as the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines, more commonly the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
and many others. However, the current law does not specifically outlaw webcam sex sites, which are often based in the Philippines. Plus enforcement is lax, and pornography is available often through black markets and the Internet. There are also some areas in Metropolitan Manila that are publicly known to sell these kinds of films.
Despite the existing laws, some reports claim that the Philippines' Porn Industry is now earning around $1 Billion annually, making it the 8th largest porn industry in the world and 4th in Asia. This also means that it currently holds the top rank in the whole Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. This is given the fact that almost every month, the OMB confiscates hundreds of thousands of counterfeit VCDs and DVDs. From January to September 2008, the OMB has confiscated 4,807,012 CDs costing P1.4 billion ($29,400,000 based on the prevailing peso-dollar exchange rate in Sept. 17, 2008).
Singapore
Visiting pornographic websites and viewing their content is not an offence in SingaporeSingapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, although it is deemed illegal to provide and/or supply any form of pornography from within the country. It is also an offence to be in possession of pornographic material.
Thailand
Pornography laws in ThailandThailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
prohibit all types of pornography. Production, distribution and possession with an intention to show to the public are criminalized. However, possession for personal use is not illegal. The law enforcement is relatively lax. Other forms of pornography such as yaoi
Yaoi
In careful Japanese enunciation, all three vowels are pronounced separately, for a three-mora word, . The English equivalent is . also known as Boys' Love, is a Japanese popular term for female-oriented fictional media that focus on homoerotic or homoromantic male relationships, usually created by...
and hentai
Hentai
is a Japanese word that, in the West, is used when referring to sexually explicit or pornographic comics and animation, particularly those of Japanese origin such as anime, manga, and computer games. The word hentai is a kanji compound of 変 and 態...
are illegal but common over the internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Vietnam
Pornography is illegal in Vietnam and enforcement against it is strict. According to legislatures, pornography harms Vietnamese standard values.Azerbaijan
In AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in accordance with article 3 of the Media Act of December 7, 1999, the "pornographic materials" are defined as works of art, photographic reproductions of paintings, information and other materials the main content of which is the crude and undignified depiction of the anatomical and physiological aspects of sexual relations.
Pornography in Azerbaijan is easily and cheaply obtainable in Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, although not in most other places. Pornographic images, either printed or recorded may cause problems when crossing the border. Taking the soft-core materials should have no problems, but Azeri borders guards can require a few extra euros. Meanwhile the legal activity to combat child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
is governed by 1998 Rights of the Child Act, 1999 Media Act, the Plan of Measures to Solve the Problem of Homeless and Street Children and the National Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Bangladesh
Pornography is illegal in Bangladesh, however there has been an increase in the numbers of pornographic movies known as 'blue movies'. In March 2002, authorities planned a drive against the pornography business. There are severe punishments given to those caught selling pornography. Concern over the rise of pornography has hinted at actions by the government. The then Home Secretary Altaf Hossain Choudhury said, "We have never really had this problem in the country before, but now it appears that one or two people or agencies are selling pornography all over Bangladesh." Pornography is particularly popular in the capital DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, where many pornographic films are available in shopping plazas. Reports from the press have also suggested that people have used digital camera
Digital camera
A digital camera is a camera that takes video or still photographs, or both, digitally by recording images via an electronic image sensor. It is the main device used in the field of digital photography...
s to film sex scenes and sell copies in the black market, which many have been convicted of. The issue concerns most of the population of Bangladesh.
India
In IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, pornography is illegal and attracts several penal provisions. However, enforcement is extremely lax and pornographic materials are easily available in public places. Softcore pornography and hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography
Hardcore pornography is a form of pornography that features explicit sexual acts. The term was coined in the second half of the 20th century to distinguish it from softcore pornography. It usually takes the form of photographs, often displayed in magazines or on the Internet, or films. It can also...
movies/photos are easily accessible through magazines, films, or Internet. The law also states that possessing and watching pornographic materials is legal, but production and distribution of pornography are prohibited.
Pornographic films in India are referred to as Blue Films and are available virtually anywhere; especially in areas where pirated material is already being sold. Despite the illegality, stores selling X-rated material are abundant in major cities, advertising openly and rarely are the laws enforced in this case. However in 2010 bombay high Court ruled that watching pornography is legal
In India, watching pornography is not uncommon though there may not be any authentic data to confirm this.
Child pornography
Section 67 of the "Information Technology Act" deals with "publishing obscene information in electronic form". This law has been interpreted to criminalize posting of pornographic content online. However, accessing of "obscene" content within one's privacy is not illegal. The IT Act was amended by the Parliament on 2008, and Section 67B was inserted which criminalizes browsing, downloading, creation, publishing child porn. Therefore while it is legal to watch adult porn, it has been made illegal to watch child porn. Child anime porn has not been explicitly criminalized.
Pakistan
Pornography is illegal. However, it is easily accessible in most parts of the country, particularly in privately owned video shops and through the InternetInternet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
. Pornographic movies are commonly referred to as Blue Print movies, Tripple(derived from Triple X), Tippi (for people in Sindh). Erotic dance is available in DVDS and CDs which are locally called Mujra
Mujra
Mujra is a form of dance originated by tawaif during the Mughal era. incorporated elements of the native classical Kathak dance onto music such as thumris and ghazals or poems of those from other Mughal cultures such as Bahadur Shah Zafar. Mujra was traditionally performed at mehfils and in...
.
Sri Lanka
The laws against pornography in Sri Lanka are vague. Under the Explicit Literature Ordinance, sale or possession of pornographic material can be classified as illegal. However, due to this being a very old law, the punishments are very lenient.However, child pornography is considered to be illegal under the National Child Protection act and the punishments are very severe. This act covers the rights of children, but not pornography per se. Therefore, the same act cannot be used as an anti-pornographic law.
There is a plethora of pornographic material available throughout the country, in paper and electronic formats. Usually, these are sold undercover. There are also a number of locally produced amateur videos, which are available freely on the Internet. Due to the severity of punishments for child pornography (i.e. involving persons under the age of 18), it is uncommon to see material of that nature in Sri Lanka.
Israel
In IsraelIsrael
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, pornographic films began to be produced in the 1990s, but most of the films were shot in the 2000s. Technically pornography is illegal since British Mandate for Palestine, but in fact at least since 1990's every large city in Israel have several sex shops.
Iran
In IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, the possession of any type of pornography is illegal and is charged with a fine. Iranian made pornography is very limited but is existent. Due to the widespread Internet access and introduction of worldwide satellites, porn is easily accessible in Iran.
Lebanon
In LebanonLebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, pornographic films started to pop up with the introduction of Arabic pop music
Arabic pop music
Arabic pop music or Arab pop is a subgenre of Pop music and Arabic music.Arab pop is mainly produced in Cairo, with Beirut as a secondary center...
and the beginning of secularism. It is illegal to produce or advertise any sort of pornographic film, though the law is lax to the extent that many Arabs from other parts of the Middle East come to purchase porn films and magazines (which are often packed in opaque bags) starring Lebanese and other Arab porn stars. Porn is also easily accessed from satellite television. There are also a couple Playboy Club
Playboy Club
The Playboy Club initially was a chain of nightclubs and resorts owned and operated by Playboy Enterprises. The first club opened at 116 E. Walton Street in downtown Chicago, Illinois, United States, on February 29, 1960. Each club generally featured a Living Room, a Playmate Bar, a Dining Room...
s in Beirut and various parts of Lebanon.
Australia
It is illegal to sell or rent X-rated material in all states of Australia, but it is not illegal to possess X-rated material, and the sale or rental of X-rated material is legal in the Northern TerritoryNorthern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
and ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
. As the Australian constitution prohibits states from regulating interstate commerce, it is legal to purchase pornography from stores in either territory and bring it interstate. This law means the majority of Australian mail order operations for adult material operate from the ACT. Despite the illegality, stores selling X-rated material are abundant in major cities, advertising openly and rarely are the laws enforced in this case.
Ratings for the X18+ category were tightened in 2000 to ban material featuring some fetishes or which appeared to include minors. In 2007 the Howard Government made the possession of X18+ pornography illegal in some Aboriginal communities.
New Zealand
Illegal for sale under 18 years of age, however rarely enforced and "softcore porn" can be sold to anybody of any age unrestricted. Generally liberal, although the most extreme forms of pornography (pedophiliaPedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
, rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, bestiality, etc.) are classified as objectionable material by the law. Cyber units of the NZ Police actively target online child pornography rings. New Zealand law is permissive, and magazines and other print copy are sold openly at newsstands.
Papua New Guinea
The possession, import, export, and sale of pornography is illegal. Control is strict.Botswana
The possession of "Indecent and obscene material such as pornographic books, magazines, films, videos, DVDs and software" is prohibited in BotswanaBotswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
.
South Africa
Pornography rated X18 is legal if sold to persons over the age of 18 in registered stores. It is illegal to host a pornographic web site in South Africa because of the difficulty of age-verification and the requirement that pornography only be distributed from designated, licensed physical premises. Child pornography is completely illegal (rated XX) in any form, including the written word. It is illegal to visually represent bestiality (also rated XX), but not illegal in text descriptions. Violent pornography is illegal in any form. It is legal to produce pornography that would be legal to consume.Distribution of pornography is regulated by the Films and Publications Act of 1996 which is enforced by the Films and Publications Board.