Pornography in Denmark
Encyclopedia
The ban on pornography
in Denmark
was lifted in 1967. In 1969, 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. There are a few regulations: for example, pornography must be placed out of the eyesight of children, and it may not be sold to persons under the age of 15. The TV channel Kanal København
broadcasts hardcore pornography
free and uncoded at night.
There are no specific restrictions against animal pornography; such affairs come under animal cruelty laws. If no harm or pain has been inflicted on the animal, such acts are legal. This lack of legislation has allegedly made Denmark a center for the production of animal pornography. This accusation, however, was dismissed as a myth
by Det Dyreetiske Råd, a legal council, which in November 2006 published an extensive report on the topic of animal sex.
Since 1980, child pornography
has been illegal in Denmark. It is illegal to distribute photographic or video pornography of persons under the age of 18, although the age of consent
in Denmark is 15. It is, however, not illegal to possess images or videos of people above 15 if such persons have given consent.
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,...
in Denmark
Denmark
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...
was lifted in 1967. In 1969, 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. There are a few regulations: for example, pornography must be placed out of the eyesight of children, and it may not be sold to persons under the age of 15. The TV channel Kanal København
Kanal København
Kanal København is a Danish commercial television channel, which can be seen in most parts of Denmark. It is Pay-TV and Cable TV delivered by providers like Stofa, Waoo!, Dansk Bredbaand and others...
broadcasts 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...
free and uncoded at night.
There are no specific restrictions against animal pornography; such affairs come under animal cruelty laws. If no harm or pain has been inflicted on the animal, such acts are legal. This lack of legislation has allegedly made Denmark a center for the production of animal pornography. This accusation, however, was dismissed as a myth
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
by Det Dyreetiske Råd, a legal council, which in November 2006 published an extensive report on the topic of animal sex.
Since 1980, child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
has been illegal in Denmark. It is illegal to distribute photographic or video pornography of persons under the age of 18, although the age of consent
Age of consent
While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual...
in Denmark is 15. It is, however, not illegal to possess images or videos of people above 15 if such persons have given consent.
Further reading
- Morten Thing: Pornografiens historie i Danmark (Aschehaug, 1999)
- Berl KutchinskyBerl KutchinskyBerl Kutchinsky was a Danish Professor of Criminology at the University of Copenhagen. He became internationally famous for his studies in the public health effects of pornography....
: Law, pornography, and crime: The Danish experience (Pax Forlag, 1999)