Pornography in Finland

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Generally legal with certain extreme exceptions and ban on child pornography
Partially legal, under some broad restrictions, or ambiguous status
Illegal
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World map of pornography laws:
  Generally legal with certain extreme exceptions and ban on child pornography
  Partially legal, under some broad restrictions, or ambiguous status
  Illegal
  Data unavailable

Certain types of pornography in Finland are illegal; this also includes child pornography. Pornographic material which are violent and bestial are banned. [1] Selling pornographic material in any store is legal, but softcore magazines may not be sold to buyers under 15, and hardcore pornography is restricted to buyers aged 18 and above.

Prior to 1 January 1999, all indecent publishing, including the import and export thereof, was banned. [2] This law was not interpreted as prohibiting the sale of porn magazines but some restrictions for the sold material prevailed.

Video law which was effective from 1987 to 2000 forbade the selling of adult-only videos effectively banning all the pornographic videos. This law was not applied very strictly but at times it led to police crackdowns to erotic stores.

Child pornography

Under Finnish law, it is illegal to possess, produce or distribute child pornography. Possession of child pornography is punishable by fine or imprisonment of 1 year while production or distribution of child pornography is punishable by fine or 2 years imprisonment.

"Aggravated" distribution of child pornography depicting a child whom is (1) particularly young, (2) also subject to violence or particularly humiliating treatment, (3) the offence is committed in a particularly methodical manner or (4) the offence has been committed in the framework of a criminal organization; and is punishable by up to 6 years imprisonment. [3]

Fictional child pornography including fantasy cartoon child pornography is allowed in Finland.[ citation needed ]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Child pornography laws in the United States</span>

In the United States, child pornography is illegal under federal law and in all states and is punishable by up to life imprisonment and fines of up to $250,000. U.S. laws regarding child pornography are virtually always enforced and amongst the harshest in the world. The Supreme Court of the United States has found child pornography to be outside the protections of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Federal sentencing guidelines on child pornography differentiate between production, distribution, and purchasing/receiving, and also include variations in severity based on the age of the child involved in the materials, with significant increases in penalties when the offense involves a prepubescent child or a child under the age of 18. U.S. law distinguishes between pornographic images of an actual minor, realistic images that are not of an actual minor, and non-realistic images such as drawings. The latter two categories are legally protected unless found to be obscene, whereas the first does not require a finding of obscenity.

The production, sale, distribution, and commercialization of child pornography in Japan is illegal under the Act on Punishment of Activities Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children (1999), and is punishable by a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a fine of ¥5,000,000. Simple possession of child pornography was made illegal by an amendment to the act in 2014. Virtual child pornography, which depicts wholly-fictional characters, is legal to produce and possess.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornography in Asia</span>

Pornography in Asia is pornography created in Asia, watched in Asia, or consumed or displayed in other parts of the world as one or more genres of Asian porn.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pornography in Bulgaria</span>

The production and distribution of pornography in Bulgaria is illegal. Pornography films and online distribution of sexual content are illegal. Bulgaria lacks pornographic production companies. However, people are allowed to watch and download pornographic videos, they just cannot sell or create pornography. Accessing, possessing or storing pornographic materials is not illegal, with the exception of child pornography.

References

  1. "Strafflag, 17 KAP, 18 §". Finlex.fi. Archived from the original on 28 March 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
  2. "FINLEX ® – Ursprungliga författningar: 23/1927". finlex.fi. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  3. "Chapter 17, sections 18 and 19" (PDF). Retrieved 4 June 2015.