Ten years ago, few global institutions recognized the harms of pornography.
But all of that is changing now.
As pornography usage has become widespread around the world—among both adults and minors—research is revealing that pornography is linked to significant harms to neurological, social, and psychological development.
These harms are especially concerning for children who often gain access to pornography websites at young ages. Most popular pornography platforms have no meaningful barrier to keep kids off their sites.
But as the research on the harms of this content has grown, finally, the world is beginning to listen!
International legislators and global institutions are recognizing the harms of pornography, and beginning to do something about it. Progress is happening all around us. Click To TweetGermany is moving to protect children from pornographic content by forcing pornography websites to not allow children access.
The Münster Higher Administrative Court in Germany issued a ruling supporting a child protection measure that threatens to block websites like Pornhub, YouPorn, and Mydirtyhobby from being accessed in Germany. Why? Because they have refused to comply with youth protection laws that told porn sites to ensure that children cannot gain access.
France may be following suit!
Next month, a Paris court is set to rule on whether a French regulator can block access to global pornography websites in France if those sites fail to prevent minors from visiting them.
The United Kingdom is moving to hold pornography sites accountable for processing children’s data.
The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office has pledged to enforce the Age Appropriate Design Code regarding pornography websites. This Code is a set of rules guiding how children’s data can be collected or used by platforms that children are likely to access. Applying the Code to pornography websites would require them to take steps to ensure they are not processing children’s data, and likely requiring them to verify users’ ages as well.
A committee in the Council of Europe recognizes the harms of pornography.
A few months ago, the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe turned its attention to the impacts of pornography. In a unanimous committee vote, they passed the first ever motion for a resolution and report in the Council of Europe addressing the harms of pornography—entitled “Gender aspects and human rights implications of pornography.” This motion has not yet been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it—nevertheless, this is a historic step forward!
Colombia’s Senate Held a Hearing on the link between pornography and sexual violence.
In the Unites States, 16 states have declared pornography a public health hazard.
In South Africa, this week, over 600 attendees from 26 African countries are gathering at the CESE Africa Summit to learn more and address the harms of pornography.
This news is just the tip of the iceberg. Even more international legislators and global institutions are recognizing the harms of pornography, and beginning to do something about it.
Progress is happening all around us.
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