Child pornography

The term child pornography (sometimes referred to as kiddie porn) generally refers to pornography featuring a child; however, the precise definition of "pornography" and "child" varies by region and country. It is widely prohibited by law, and faces the disapproval of most members of society.

Age of consent

In many countries, including the US, the UK and the Netherlands, "children" are defined to be persons below the age of 18. In Australia, child pornography is defined to include persons under 16 years. However, although material depicting 16 and 17 year olds is not legally considered child pornography, it is still illegal. It is rated as "Refused Classification", and thus illegal to sell or distribute. The European Union recommends the harmonization of the age limit to 18 years. The Netherlands raised the age limit of a "child" to that number in October 2002. The UK Sexual Offenses Act 2003 did the same. It was compulsory to dispose of possessions that became illegal. The age limit in Germany is still 14 years.

Related Topics:
European Union - Netherlands - October - 2002 - Germany

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Images of legal activities are not always legal. For example, in the U.S., child porn includes anyone under 18; however, many states have an age of consent lower than 18. Therefore, it may be legal to have sex with someone under 18 but not to take pictures of that person in sexual situations. The young person is not even allowed to make such a picture of himself or herself for personal use. One main reason for this disparity is that child pornography is primarily addressed under federal law, while age of sexual consent is solely a state issue.

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Since the passage of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, UK law in general prohibits images of 16 and 17 year olds as child pornography, even though they are above the age of consent (16). However, there is an exception to the law, which provides that it is legal for a 16 or 17 year old to possess sexual images of themselves; it is also legal for their sexual partner (who may be over 18) to possess such images, although it is illegal for the sexual partner to distribute them to any other person. The sexual partner must be a husband/wife, or a cohabitating partner "in an enduring family relationship". (Source: paragraphs 72-92, Explanatory Notes to Sexual Offences Act 2003).

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