Iceland Porn Ban About Protection, Not Censorship, Supporters Claim
A new proposal to ban internet porn in Iceland is being fought by opponents who cite claims of censorship and economic degradation, while supporters try to explain that their first priority is not a financial concern, but rather the welfare of the country's young and vulnerable.
The proposal by Interior Minister Ogmundur Jonasson has led to protests and other outrage by as those against the proposed measure. Critics claim that the move to ban certain content on the web will only led to more restrictions on a free and open internet and that it will hurt Iceland economically in the end.
Supporters counter that the ban will do nothing to curtail the economic viability of the nation while at the same time protecting the innocence of children.
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"When a 12 year old types 'porn' into Google, he or she is not going to find photos of naked women out on a country field, but very hardcore and brutal violence," Halla Gunnarsdottir, political adviser to the interior minister, said in a statement.
"We are a progressive, liberal society when it comes to nudity, to sexual relations, so our approach is not anti-sex but anti-violence. This is about children and gender equality, not about limiting free speech," Gunnarsdottir added.
With the recession in the world economy, Iceland had to change from being a leader in credit-driven banking. The country was hit particularly hard when many debt-riddled banks failed in the wake of the crash in 2008.
With the economy slowly climbing back in Iceland, the nation is using its IT prowess and is pushing hard to become a center of media and technology freedom by attracting top firms and talent with incentives of accessibility and openness.
Proponents of the new measure say that responsible policies need to be in place and that specifically targeting porn will do nothing to slow Iceland's economic recovery.
Iceland has banned print pornography for years, but has not updated its laws to include the Internet. Strip clubs were also banned in the nation two years ago under the belief that they violate the rights of women who work there.
