Editor: Vlad Rothstein | Tactical Investor
Iceland Porn: How Iceland Dealt With This Issue
Updated Jan 2024
In response to concerns about the potential negative impact of internet content, Iceland is exploring measures to regulate online access to explicit material. Ogmundur Jonasson, Iceland’s interior minister, is developing legislation aimed at curbing the availability of explicit images and videos, especially for young people accessing the internet through various devices.
The proposed measures involve implementing internet filters similar to those used in other countries. This move is motivated by worries about the harmful effects of explicit content on both children and women. Minister Jonasson emphasizes the need for open discussions on restricting violent pornography, which is believed to have adverse effects on young individuals and may be linked to incidents of violent crime.
Potential methods being considered include blocking access to explicit websites and making it illegal to use Icelandic credit cards for pay-per-view adult content. These steps are part of a broader effort to create a safer online environment, particularly for the younger population. The government aims to balance protecting individuals from potential harm and maintaining freedom of expression.
Professor Gail Dines, an expert in pornography who recently spoke at a conference at Reykjavik University, commended Iceland for adopting a progressive approach that no other democratic country has attempted. She highlighted the uniqueness of Iceland’s perspective, focusing on pornography’s potential harm to the women involved and viewing it as a violation of their civil rights.
Dagbjört Ásbjörnsdóttir, a sexologist from the Reykjavik department of Education and Youth, shared a similar sentiment. She emphasized the influence of online content on children’s perceptions of sex, backed by research. Ásbjörnsdóttir stressed the importance of proactive measures to prevent potential harm or misconceptions that children might develop from exposure to certain online material.
Transforming Teen Attitudes: Iceland’s Success in Curbing Substance Abuse
Walking alongside me are Gudberg Jónsson, a local psychologist, and Harvey Milkman, an American psychology professor who teaches part-time at Reykjavik University. Two decades ago, Icelandic teenagers ranked among the highest consumers of alcohol in Europe. “Downtown Reykjavik on a Friday night felt unsafe due to hordes of teenagers getting in-your-face drunk,” recalls Milkman.
Approaching a sizable building, Gudberg points out various recreational facilities, including indoor skating, badminton and ping pong halls we passed earlier. In the park, an athletics track, a geothermally heated swimming pool, and a group of kids enthusiastically playing football on an artificial pitch come into view.
This transformation highlights Iceland’s successful strategy in steering teens away from substance abuse by fostering engaging and healthy recreational activities. The shift from a heavy drinking culture to one focused on positive pursuits has contributed to a safer and more vibrant community environment.
This shift in activities has led to remarkable results, positioning Iceland at the forefront of Europe for having the cleanest-living teens. The statistics speak for themselves: the percentage of 15- and 16-year-olds who had been drunk in the previous month plummeted from 42% in 1998 to a mere 5% in 2016. Furthermore, the percentage of teenagers who have ever used cannabis dropped from 17% to 7%, and the number of daily cigarette smokers drastically reduced from 23% to just 3%. This positive transformation reflects the success of Iceland’s approach in promoting healthier lifestyles and steering young individuals away from harmful behaviours.
Iceland porn ban: what happened?
The sheer volume of porn on the Internet, coupled with the existence of proxy services and VPNs, has already made this idea unworkable in a practical sense. As well-intended as it might have been, the proposal was also met with fierce resistance from free-speech advocates. Ultimately, the proposal was scattered to the winds. Full Story
Iceland porn Ban update
Iceland is considering installing Internet filters to block Icelanders from viewing porn. If that ban goes ahead as expected this spring, the country will be the first Western democracy to attempt to censor the Internet. Iceland already forbids the creation and distribution of print pornography. In the past few months, a national consensus has emerged that pornography is harmful to the women who perform in it and promotes sexist or even violent attitudes in men. Installing appropriate filters could be tricky, but Halla Gunnarsdottir of the Interior Ministry is convinced it can be done.
“Surely if we can send a man to the moon,” she said, “we must be able to tackle porn on the Internet.” Full Story
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