Legality of child pornography
Introduction Child pornography is illegal in most countries, but there is substantial variation in definitions, categories, penalties, and interpretations of laws. Differences include the definition of "child" under the laws, which can vary with the age of sexual consent; the definition of "child pornography" itself, for example on the basis of medium or degree of reality; and which actions are criminal (e.g. production, distribution, possession, and/or downloading and viewing of material). Laws surrounding fictional child pornography are a major source of variation between jurisdictions; some maintain distinctions in legality between real and fictive pornography depicting minors, while others regulate fictive material under general laws against child pornography.Several organizations and treaties have set non-binding guidelines (model legislation) for countries to follow. While a country may be a signatory, they may or may not have chosen to implement these guidelines. The information given in this article is subject to change as laws are consistently updated around the world.
International stance ===Organizations==='''International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC)'''This organization combats child sexual exploitation, child pornography, and child abduction. For child pornography they have set up "model legislation" which defines child pornography, and sets up recommended sanctions/sentencing. According to research performed in 2018; child pornography is illegal in 118 of the 196 Interpol member states. This figure represents countries that have sufficient legislation in establishing 4 or 5 of 5 criteria met as defined by the ICMEC. '''ECPAT International (ECPAT)'''ECPAT focuses on halting the online sexual exploitation of children, the trafficking of children for sexual purposes and the sexual exploitation of children in the travel and tourism industry. This organization tracks countries that have implemented standards as defined by agreements such as the Convention on Cybercrime, and Lanzarote Convention through their human rights reports.===Treaties===At least two major treaties are in place with one "optional protocol" to combat child pornography worldwide. These are considered international obligations to pass specific laws against child pornography which should be "punishable by appropriate penalties that take into account their grave nature". The first of these treaties has to do with The Council of Europe's Cybercrime Convention, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, and the EU Framework Decision that became active in 2006.These required signatory or member states to criminalize all aspects of child pornography. The second involves the United Nations which established Article 34 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This stated that all signatories shall take appropriate measures to prevent the exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials. An optional protocol was also added that requires signatories to outlaw the "producing, distributing, disseminating, importing, exporting, offering, selling or possessing for the above purposes" of child pornography. Some of the negotiations and reviews of the process took place at the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children held in 1996 and 2001.
Debate While laws criminalizing child sexual abuse now exist in all countries of the world, more diversity in law and public opinion exists on issues such as the exact minimum age of those depicted in pornography, whether the mere possession of child pornography should be a crime, or the extent to which criminal law should distinguish between the possession, acquisition, distribution and production of child pornography. Convictions involving child pornography typically include prison sentences in most countries, but those sentences are often converted to probation or fines for first-time offenders in cases of mere possession.In 1999, in the case of ''R. v. Sharpe'', British Columbia's highest court struck down a law against possessing child pornography as unconstitutional. That opinion, written by Justice Duncan Shaw, held, "There is no evidence that demonstrates a significant increase in the danger to children caused by pornography", and "A person who is prone to act on his fantasies will likely do so irrespective of the availability of pornography." The Opposition in the Canadian Parliament considered invoking the notwithstanding clause to override the court's ruling. However, it was not necessary because the Canadian Supreme Court overturned the decision with several findings including that viewing such material makes it more likely that the viewer will abuse, that the existence of such materials further hurts the victims as they know of its existence, and that the demand for such images encourages the abuse.In the United States, some federal judges have argued that the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines' recommended penalties for possessors of child pornography are too harsh. Judge Jack B. Weinstein of New York criticizes the mandatory sentence for possession of child pornography as often ''higher'' than the penalty for actually committing the act of child abuse it depicts. Furthermore, child pornography prosecutions have led to dozens of suicides, some of them among the innocently accused. The requirement that people convicted of possessing child pornography pay restitution has been criticized by some judges and law professors. This has been particularly controversial in cases involving millions of dollars of restitution, as in those pertaining to the Misty Series. But in 2010, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that restitution directly to depicted minors was an appropriate penalty for possession of child pornography.During the nomination process at the 2008 Libertarian National Convention, anarcho-capitalist and U.S. presidential candidate Mary Ruwart came under fire for her comment in her 1998 book, ''Short answers to the tough questions'', in which she stated her opposition not only to laws against possession of child pornography but even against its ''production'', based on her belief that such laws actually encourage such behavior by increasing prices. Shane Cory, on behalf of the minarchist United States Libertarian Party in his role as executive director, issued a response saying, "We have an obligation to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse, and we can do this by increasing communication between state and federal agencies to help combat this repulsive industry. While privacy rights should always be respected in the pursuit of child pornographers, more needs to be done to track down and prosecute the twisted individuals who exploit innocent children." Cory resigned after the party refused to vote on a resolution asking states to strongly enforce existing child porn laws.
Status by country +Table legend Legality  Description   '''Real child pornography:''' This tag assumes the sale, production, and distribution of child pornography is illegal (''de jure'') by default unless stated otherwise. '''Fictional child pornography:''' This tag assumes the sale, production, and distribution of fictional child pornography is illegal (''de jure'') by default unless stated otherwise. '''Possession:''' Possessing (including simple possession) is illegal (''de jure'') for both fictional and real child pornography by default unless stated otherwise. '''Real child pornography:''' This may cover a partially legal situation, or one where the law is not enforced. Details can be found in the "short summary" section. '''Fictional child pornography:''' This is used when fictional child pornography is not clearly defined by law, or for countries which define what parts are legal/Illegal. '''Possession:''' If '''only''' fictional child pornography is legal, then by default possession of it is legal as well. This also covers partly legal and unenforced situations. '''Real or fictional child pornography:''' No restrictions are in place. '''Possession:''' No restrictions are in place. The status of the law is unknown, this may change with additional sourcing.=== Africa === Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary Algeria        Child pornography is illegal in Algeria by any means per Article 333 bis 1 of their penal code. Punishments include prison sentences of up to 5 to 10 years with a fine of 500,000 DA to 1,000,000 DA. Angola        Article 184 of the Angolan penal code prohibits the production, transport and sale of sexually explicit material involving a child. The law does not include simple possession or mention fictional material. Benin        The "Child Code" of Benin prohibits child pornography including possession and simulated images. Persons convicted of child pornography face sentences of two to five years' imprisonment and fines ranging from two to five million CFA francs ($3,610 to $9,025). Botswana        Possession of child pornography is illegal in Botswana, and punishable with between 5 and 15 years' imprisonment. Electronic forms of an apparent child are also illegal, but define a "child" as under the age of 14.Burkina Faso        Child pornography is illegal in Burkina Faso, but not clearly defined. Mere possession, simulated representations, or realistic images of a non-existent child are not criminalized. Burundi        Child pornography is illegal in Burundi and punishable by fines and between 3 and 5 years in prison. Possession of child pornography is not criminalized. Cameroon        Producing, possessing, or distributing child pornography is illegal in Cameroon with punishments of 5 to 10 years of imprisonment and fines from 5 million CFA francs to 10 million CFA francs. Virtual child pornography (“realistic” images) and a person “appearing” to be a child are also punishable conducts. Cape Verde        Cape Verdean law prohibits the use of children under age 18 in pornography, with penalties for conviction of up to three years' imprisonment. Central African Republic        No laws in the Central African Republic prohibit child pornography. Chad        Article 362 of the Penal Code 2017 of Chad criminalizes the production, distribution, importation, exportation, supply, making available, sale, obtaining or handing over to others, possession of any material. Comoros        Conviction of child pornography is punishable in Comoros by fines or imprisonment. There is no information available regarding fictional forms or mere possession. Democratic Republic of the Congo       The Democratic Republic of the Congo's penal code prohibits child pornography by any means whatsoever. Those convicted face 10 to 20 years imprisonment. Mere possession by any means is not addressed in the law. Republic of Congo        Child pornography (including possession) in the Republic of the Congo is punishable by Article 66 of the Law on the Protection of the Child of the Republic of Congo (Law No. 4-2010). Djibouti        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Egypt        While all forms of pornography are prohibited, Egyptian laws do not specifically define or prohibit child pornography. Equatorial Guinea        No laws in Equatorial Guinea prohibit child pornography. Eritrea        Child pornography is illegal in Eritrea, however this law does not mention possession or anything fictional. Eswatini        Practices related to child pornography are illegal in Eswatini under the "Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 2018". Offenders face up to 25 years imprisonment. Ethiopia        Child pornography is illegal (but not defined) in Ethiopia per Article 12 of the "Computer Crime Proclamation (2016)" act. There is no information given for physical forms such as drawings or paintings. Gabon        All forms of pornography are prohibited. The Gambia        While child pornography is illegal in the Gambia, the law in place is "extremely under-developed". Mere possession of "child sexual abuse materials" is not criminalized. Ghana         Child pornography is illegal in Ghana, but no clear definition is given on what “sexually explicit conduct” means leaving the law open for discretion. Virtual child pornography (“realistic” images) and a person “appearing” to be a child are also punishable conducts. Guinea        Child pornography in any representation is illegal in Guinea under the "Criminal Code Act (1974)". The United States Department of State notes that this law is "generally unenforced". Guinea-Bissau        Child pornography is illegal in Guinea-Bissau, but possession and distribution are not criminally prohibited. Ivory Coast        The law in Ivory Coast prohibits the use, recruitment, or offering of minors for commercial sex or use in pornographic films, pictures, or events. Kenya        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Lesotho        Child pornography is illegal in Lesotho, and is punishable by not less than 10 years' imprisonment. Liberia        Child pornography is illegal "in any form or manner" and is punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. Libya        No laws in Libya prohibit child pornography. Madagascar        Article 346 of the Penal Code of Madagascar criminalizes the use of “any means” to disseminate child pornography. Officials have stated that the laws were often not uniformly interpreted or applied. Malawi        Although laws in Malawi do not clearly define child pornography, it criminalises possession with a sanction of 14 years' imprisonment. This covers any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, image, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means. Mali        Child pornography is illegal in Mali per Article 228 of the 2001 adopted penal code. Penalties for conviction range from five to 20 years in prison. This law includes "pornographic pictures, films or drawings showing one or several minors aged less than thirteen". Mauritania        Possession of child pornography is illegal in Mauritania with penalties of 2 months to 1 year in prison and a fine. Mauritius        While child pornography and possession is illegal in Mauritius, its unclear whether pure fiction counts as a representation of a person. Morocco        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Mozambique        Child pornography is illegal in Mozambique but is only partly enforced. Namibia        Production and possession of child pornography is illegal in Namibia. Niger        Child pornography is illegal in Niger. Nigeria        The Child Rights Act makes child pornography illegal in Nigeria, but not all states have implemented it. It is also criminalized by the Cybercrimes Prohibition Act of 2015.Virtual child pornography (“realistic” images) and a person “appearing” to be a child are also punishable conducts. Rwanda        Child pornography is illegal in Rwanda, and convictions are punishable by life imprisonment along with a substantial monetary fine. The law also applies to "objects of sexual nature" which includes the production of writings and drawings. São Tomé and Príncipe        Child pornography is illegal in São Tomé and Príncipe per article 180 of the penal code. Senegal        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Seychelles        Producing or possessing child pornography is illegal in Seychelles, with imprisonment for conviction of up to 20 years. Fictional 'indecent' images or representations are also illegal, but these remain undefined in the law. Sierra Leone        Child pornography is illegal in Sierra Leone ("includes other visual representation") punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than 10 years. Somalia        No laws in Somalia criminally prohibit child pornography. South Africa        All forms of child pornography are illegal in South Africa. This includes possessing, creating, or importing any image or description of a person "real or simulated". South Sudan        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Sudan        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Tanzania        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Togo        Child pornography is illegal in Togo by any means whatsoever, and is punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison. Tunisia        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Uganda        All forms of child pornography are prohibited. Zambia        Child pornography is illegal in Zambia but is not defined. Zimbabwe        Child pornography is illegal in Zimbabwe as anyone in possession can be charged with public indecency which is punishable by a 'small fine", imprisonment up to 6 months, or both. All forms of pornography are prohibited. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary=== Asia ===  Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary Afghanistan        Child pornography was illegal in Afghanistan under the Afghan penal code: “if an adult male has intercourse with a person younger than the legal age, his act shall be considered rape and the victim's consent is invalid.” This law also applied to women offenders who may have been additionally charged with adultery. Following Fall of Kabul and subsequent takeover of power by the Taliban in 2021, the legal status of child pornography is unclear. Armenia        Child pornography is illegal in Armenia and punishable by up to 7 years in prison. Azerbaijan        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Azerbaijan, but laws regarding simple possession are not stated. Bahrain        Child pornography is forbidden in Bahrain, its legally unclear if this applies to non electronic possession or fictional forms. Bangladesh        Child pornography is illegal in Bangladesh except for virtual forms which are not addressed. Bhutan        Child pornography is illegal in Bhutan as it falls under "obscene material". Virtual child pornography, and mere possession are not addressed. Brunei        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Cambodia        All forms of pornography are prohibited in Cambodia, which includes photographs and drawings. China ''(including Hong Kong and Macau)''       All forms of pornography are prohibited with the exceptions of Hong Kong and Macau, which only make child pornography illegal. Cyprus        Child pornography is illegal in Cyprus with maximum sentences of up to life in prison. India        All forms of pornography except fictional depictions "in the interest of art or literature" are prohibited. Indonesia        All forms of pornography in Indonesia are prohibited in theory. The law makes no clear definition of child pornography and its forms. Iran        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Iraq         All forms of pornography are prohibited. Israel ''(excluding Palestinian territories)''        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Israel. This includes possession and fictional depictions. Japan        Simple possession, production, and distribution of child pornography is illegal in Japan. Fictional child pornography, such as Lolicon and Shotacon, are excluded from the law. These fall under "cultural and artistic activities" which are protected by freedom of expression. Jordan        Child pornography is not explicitly defined nor criminalized in the Jordanian legislation, but there are online laws in place which criminalize dissemination. Kazakhstan        Child pornography is illegal in Kazakhstan except for mere possession. The law also provides administrative penalties to cover the sale of pornographic materials to minors. North Korea        All forms of pornography are prohibited. South Korea        All forms of pornography (real or fictional) are prohibited. These actively enforced laws also allow government monitoring and censorship, possession of any form (child or not) is also illegal. Kuwait        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Kyrgyzstan        While child pornography is illegal in Kyrgyzstan, there is no legislation that defines child pornography by law. Computer related activities such as access to child pornography online, and mere possession are not fully criminalized. Laos        Laws in Laos prohibit the dissemination of pornography, giving it a broad definition that could be interpreted to include simulated representations of children. Simple possession is not criminalized. Lebanon        The Penal Code and Law 422 protect children from child pornography which include the artificial practice of simulating sexual activities or virtual portrayals. Malaysia        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Images of naked children or children taking part in a sexual act is haram in Islam. Maldives        While all forms of pornography are prohibited in Maldives under Sharia, there are no specific provisions defining "child pornography". Mongolia        While illegal, there are no specific provisions focused on child pornography. Legal penalties depend on the interpretation of other related laws. Myanmar        Child pornography is illegal in Myanmar, it is unknown if the law covers simple possession or fictional forms. Nepal        Nepalese law prohibits taking or allowing to be taken any photograph of children for the purpose of engaging a child in immoral profession. Virtual child pornography is not criminalized under Nepalese law, while mere possession under "real" is not mentioned. Oman        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Pakistan        All forms of pornography (adult and child) are prohibited. Philippines        The "Anti-Child Pornography Act" makes child pornography illegal in the Philippines in all forms. Qatar        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Saudi Arabia        Child pornography is illegal in Saudi Arabia. This includes possession but virtual/fictional forms are not addressed. Singapore        All forms of pornography are prohibited. ICMEC Singapore has a voluntary Asia-Pacific Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography (APAC-FCACP) to fight online child sexual exploitation. Sri Lanka        Child pornography is illegal in Sri Lanka, but is undefined, and not always enforced by authorities. "Fictional" child pornography such as drawings and cartoons are also covered but face the same undefined issue. Syria        Syrian law considers child pornography a trafficking crime, but the punishment for child pornography is set at the local level with unclear enforcement. Taiwan        The "Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act" criminalizes the production, broadcast, distribution, and exhibition of pornography. Simple possession of such materials without justifiable cause is punishable by fines. The law doesn't explicitly include "simulated images". Tajikistan        Child pornography is illegal in Tajikistan, except for possession which is not mentioned by law. Virtual child pornography, and suggestive representations of children are not defined. Thailand        Child pornography including possession is illegal in Thailand, as is pornography in general. According to ECPAT though, the law does not reflect the definition of virtual “child pornography” set forth in international legal instruments. East Timor        All forms of child pornography including possession of it is illegal in East Timor. Convictions are punishable with 3 to 10 years imprisonment. Turkey        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Turkey with imprisonment of 2 to 5 years and a fine for violations. Fictional child pornography has been illegal since 2016.Turkmenistan        While there are no specific child pornography laws in Turkmenistan, legislation states that the production and dissemination of (child) pornographic printed publications, films or any pornographic items shall be prohibited. United Arab Emirates        All forms of pornography are prohibited. Uzbekistan        Although the production and distribution of child pornography are criminally prohibited, possession is not criminalized in Uzbekistan. Vietnam        Child pornography is illegal, but not defined under Vietnamese law. The production, distribution, dissemination, and sale of material deemed to be child pornography is punishable by 3 to 10 years in prison. Virtual "child pornography" is not defined or explicitly criminalized. Yemen        The legal framework in Yemen does not adequately prohibit child pornography. This country has been hampered by an ongoing civil war since 2014, and the extent of Sharia law implementation is unclear. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary=== Europe ===    Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary  Albania        The production and distribution of child pornography is illegal in Albania, and is punishable by a prison sentence of three to 10 years. While the possession of "real" child pornography is illegal, there are no provisions for fictional forms. Andorra        All forms of child pornography (real or fictional) including ownership are illegal in Andorra. Prison sentences range from one to four years depending on the severity of the crime committed. Austria        Child pornography is illegal in Austria except for unrealistic depictions. Photorealistic (lit. "close to reality") forms are prohibited, and are treated as regular child pornography. Belarus        Producing and distributing pornographic materials depicting a minor is illegal in Belarus, and punishable by up to 13 years in prison. The law does not criminalize simple possession or virtual forms of "child pornography". Belgium        Possession of, producing, and disseminating child pornography is illegal in Belgium. While fictional child pornography is legal, the law applies to pornographic art that realistically depicts underage characters. Bosnia and Herzegovina        The Criminal Codes of FBiH, RS, and BD prohibit the production, possession, and distribution of child pornography. These laws also apply to a person who "looks like a child" in real or explicitly simulated evident sexual behaviour. Bulgaria        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Bulgaria. Fictional forms such as "realistic images" or "virtual" representations are not included nor criminalized. Croatia        Child pornography is illegal in Croatia with laws actively enforced. Fictional forms are only allowed if they are considered to be "artistic, medical, scientific, and informative" content. Czech Republic        Child pornography and possession is illegal in the Czech Republic with laws that are actively enforced. There is no information regarding the implementation of fictional child pornography laws. Denmark ''(including all territories)''        Possession, distribution, and production of child pornography is illegal under Danish law. Penalties for the distribution of child pornography include up to a six-year prison sentence. Fictional forms are legal as there are no laws in Denmark which prohibit "pornographic" drawings of children. Estonia        Child pornography is illegal in Estonia with punishments ranging from a fine to three years in prison. While fictional forms are also illegal per article 178 of the Penal Code, this law does not apply to Estonian citizens who legally commit the offense abroad. Finland''(including Åland)''        Under Finnish law, it is illegal to possess, produce or distribute child pornography. If there is no child (defined as a real person) in child pornography, then it is legal depending on realism. France ''(including all territories)''        Child pornography is illegal in France, with a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a €75,000 fine for its use and distribution. Fictional forms are also covered in the law except for works which are deemed artistic in value. Georgia        All forms of child pornography including possession are illegal in Georgia, and punishable by up to five years' imprisonment. Germany        Distributing, acquiring, and possessing child pornography is illegal in Germany with punishments from one year to 10 years imprisonment. Fictional "child pornography" is legal as long as it does not produce or reproduce an actual event. Greece        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Greece. Article 348A of the Greek criminal code punishes offenders with imprisonment of at least one year and a fine of €10,000 to €100,000.Hungary        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Hungary per "Act C" of the 2012 criminal code. Hungarian law defines "child pornography" as "any video, movie or photograph or other form of recording". This law does not include capturing a child (under 18) by drawing or painting as long as the content is non "realistic". Iceland        All forms of pornography (adult and child) are prohibited. Ireland        All forms of child pornography and possession are illegal in Ireland. This includes 'pornography" that doesn't contain any "real children". Italy        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Italy per Article 600 of the Italian criminal code. Latvia        All forms of child pornography are prohibited in Latvia except for works that are educational, informative, scientific, or artistic in value. Liechtenstein        Possession or distribution of child pornography is a criminal offense, with penalties of up to three years in prison. The legal definition of "pornographic depictions of minors" makes no distinction between real or fictional pornography. Lithuania        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Lithuania per Articles 162 and 309 of the Lithuanian criminal code. This law includes material "displaying a child or presenting a person as a child", with punishments of up to 3 years imprisonment. Luxembourg        Child pornography (including possession) is illegal in Luxembourg. An ongoing issue is that there is no clear definition for "child pornography" as highly sexualised pictures of children are sometimes considered perfectly legal. The law does not mention fictional forms leaving no data available. Malta        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Malta with punishments ranging from 3 to 12 years imprisonment depending on the action involved. This law also includes simulated images in the form of drawings and cartoons under Malta's criminal code. Moldova        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Moldova with punishments ranging from 1 to 3 years imprisonment. Monaco         Child pornography and possession is illegal in Monaco per Article 294-3 of the Monacan criminal code. The law also includes falsified "realistic" images of a physical person that was fully or partially created using digital technology. No information is given for other possible real or unrealistic forms. Montenegro        Article 211 of the Criminal Code criminalises “pornographic” content and performances but does not define the term “pornographic” or what is considered to be “child pornography”. Fictional forms are not defined or criminalized, but a provision under Article 211 could cover them. Netherlands ''(including all territories)''        Child pornography and possession is illegal in the Netherlands per Article 240b of the criminal code. The law also includes "realistic" images which are in a legal grey area, as judgements are made that vary from image to image. North Macedonia        Child pornography and possession is illegal in North Macedonia per Article 193 (plus a and b) of the criminal code. The law also covers "realistic pictures" without providing a definition. Norway ''(including all territories)''        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Norway per Section 311 of the penal code. While the law makes an exception for works deemed to be artistic, scientific, and/or informational, judgments passed in the late 2010s have treated drawings illegally. Poland        Child pornography (including possession) is illegal in Poland, but legislation does not define the concept of "child pornography". Fictional forms are in a legal gray area as they could arguably fall under Section 4b of article 202 of the penal code. Portugal''(including all territories)''        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Portugal under Article 176 of the Portuguese penal code. The law is also vague in its definition of "pornographic depictions" when mentioning "realistic representations of children". Romania        Any form of "Child pornography material" is illegal in Romania, with no exception. The Penal Code defines "Child pornography material" as any material “presenting a minor having explicit sexual behaviour or an adult who is presented as a minor having explicit sexual behaviour or images that, although not presenting a real person, simulate, credibly, a minor having that kind of behaviour and any representation of children sexual organs with the intent of depicting sexual behaviour.” It is unclear if an unrealistic fictional character can be considered a images "that simulate, credibly,  a minor". Penal Code of Romania, art. 374 Russia ''(including occupied Ukraine)''        Distribution or storage with the intend of distribution of child pornography is illegal in Russia, but there is no legal definition of it in Russia's national legislation consistent with the Lanzarote Convention. There is also nothing in the law that prohibits simple possession of child pornography. San Marino        Child pornography is illegal in San Marino except for simple possession. There is no data available for fictional forms. Serbia        Child pornography (including possession) is illegal in Serbia under article 185 of the criminal code, but is not defined. Fictional forms are not criminalized unless they are found to be abusive to a "juvenile" by electronic or other means (which also lacks a definition). Slovakia        Child pornography (including possession) is illegal in Slovakia under sections 368, 369, and 370 of the criminal code. Penalties range from two to 20 years' imprisonment. Section 127 of the criminal code defines "child" as "a person under eighteen years of age, unless they have reached the legal age earlier". The section defines child pornography as "pornographic material that visually depicts sexual intercourse, different act of sexual intercourse, or other conduct similar to sexual intercourse with a child, or naked parts of the child’s body, and that is designed to gratify sexual desire of another." It is not known if fictional content would fall under that definition.However, in June 2013, the law was amended to prohibit "depiction of real or pretended intercourse, another method of sexual intercourse or other similar sexual intercourse with a child or a person who looks like a child, or the depiction of exposed parts of the body of a child or a person who looks like a child aimed at inducing the sexual satisfaction of another person". Accordingly, it is probable that fictional depictions fall under this definition. Slovenia        Child pornography (including possession) is illegal in Slovenia under article 176 of the criminal code. While the law also covers "pornographic or other sexual material depicting minors or their realistic images", no definition of "realistic" is given. Spain''(including all territories)''        Child pornography (including "real" possession) is illegal in Spain per Article 189 of the Spanish criminal code. Exceptions include fictional depictions that are not realistic enough to fall under the scope of the law. Sweden        Child pornography (including "real" possession) is illegal in Sweden per chapter 16, section 10A of the Swedish penal code. In terms of "fictional" depictions, Sweden's supreme court ruled that a "manga expert" could keep one or two drawings in his possession that could, in other cases, be regarded as illegal child pornography. Switzerland        Child pornography, including possession, is illegal in Switzerland per article 197 of the Swiss Criminal Code. This law includes purely fictional forms such as drawings or virtual depictions. Ukraine        Child pornography is illegal in Ukraine which defines it as a "depicting in any way a child or a person who looks like a child, in a real or simulated sexually explicit image or involved in real or simulated sexual behaviour, or any image of the child's genitals for sexual purposes". Article 301-1 of the Criminal Code (added in 2021) prohibits possession. As Ukraine is currently subject to an invasion, occupied land controlled by Russia is in a legal gray area. United Kingdom ''(including all territories)''        All forms of child pornography (real or fictional) including possession is illegal in the United Kingdom per the Protection of Children Act of 1978 and the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.The law includes real and fictional "indecent pseudo-photographs of a child". Punishments for indictment incur a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. Vatican City        Pope Francis specifically listed possession of child pornography as a crime against children that can be punished by up to 12 years in prison. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary=== North America === Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary  Antigua and Barbuda        Child pornography is illegal in Antigua and Barbuda. Offenders are subject to fines of up to $500,000 XCD ($185,000) and 20 years in prison. The Bahamas        All forms of child pornography including mere possession of it are illegal in the Bahamas. Those found guilty are liable to imprisonment for life. Barbados        The Protection of Children Act prohibits the use of children in pornographic activities, but this does not apply to distribution of films. Non-realistic representations without involvement from a real person are excluded in the law. Belize        The law in Belize prohibits the simple possession of child pornography. Canada        Section 163.1 of the Criminal Code of Canada, enacted on June 25, 1993, forbids the production, distribution, and possession of both real and fictional child pornography, including material in the form of writing, fictional visual representations, and audiovisual recordings. Maximum punishments vary from ten to fourteen years in prison depending on the type of offense. Costa Rica        All forms of child pornography, including its possession, are illegal in Costa Rica. Defendants found guilty of selling, financing, distributing or exhibiting child pornography will serve convictions of four to eight years. Cuba        Child pornography is illegal in Cuba, and the law imposes seven- to 15-years' imprisonment. Mere possession of child pornography is not criminalized. Dominica        There are no laws in Dominica that prohibit child pornography. Dominican Republic        Laws in the Dominican Republic contain specific provisions that prohibit child pornography. Possession is only illegal in electronic form. El Salvador        El Salvador's penal Code prohibits child pornography involving real children. This remains unenforced due to inadequate training and resources. Grenada        Electronic forms of child pornography are illegal in Grenada under the Electronic Crimes Act. Psychical forms and possession of them are not mentioned. Guatemala        Production of child pornography is illegal in Guatemala. Non-realistic images of child pornography are also criminalized, but possession remains legal. Haiti        Haitian law prohibits child pornography, but there are no mechanisms established for enforcement. There are also no provisions on the production, possession, and dissemination of child pornography. Honduras        Pornography involving real children is illegal in Honduras. Penalties range from 4 to 15 years imprisonment from possession to distribution, production, etc. Jamaica        The production, possession, importation, exportation, and distribution of child pornography is illegal in Jamaica and is punishable by a maximum penalty of 23 years in prison and a fine of J$500,000.Mexico        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Mexico with prison sentences ranging from six months to 12 years depending on the felon's age. Nicaragua        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Nicaragua, including fictional drawings. The government generally enforces the law with prison sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years. Panama        All forms of child pornography including possession are illegal in Panama. Saint Kitts and Nevis        The criminal code makes publishing, producing, or possessing child pornography through an electronic device a crime. There is no information given on psychical forms, unrealistic images, and possession of them. Saint Lucia        There are no laws in Saint Lucia that define or specifically prohibit child pornography. Trinidad and Tobago        Child pornography and possession of it is illegal in Trinidad and Tobago. Offenders are liable on conviction on indictment, to a fine of thirty thousand dollars and to imprisonment for ten years. United States ''(including all territories)''        The U.S. laws against child pornography are virtually always enforced and among the harshest in the world. "Fictional child pornography" is legally protected as freedom of expression under the First Amendment, unless it is considered obscene. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary=== Oceania ===  Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary Australia ''(all states and territories)''       Acts such as possession, production and distribution of child pornography (real or fictional) are illegal in Australia, and can be punished by up to a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $275,000 fine. Federated States of Micronesia        Only Pohnpei has a statute prohibiting child pornography. Both Chuuk and Pohnpei have provisions against filming explicit movies of underage children, but Yap and Kosrae have no such provisions. Fiji        Child pornography is illegal in Fiji per Article 91 of the "Employment Relations Promulgation" (2007), and Article 62A of the "Juveniles Act". This law includes the wording: "persons who look like juveniles whether they are or not". Kiribati        The status of child pornography in Kiribati is unclear. A report by the United States Department of State conducted in 2020 explains that "(Kiribati's) penal code has no specific provision concerning child pornography". This however, contradicts an apparent amendment made in 2016 to their penal code. Marshall Islands        Child pornography is criminalized, but not defined in the Marshall Islands. There is no mention of production, possession or dissemination of child pornography in the law. Nauru        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Nauru. It is unclear if this applies to unrealistic images or for possession. New Zealand ''(including all territories)''        Browsing for, distributing, producing, and possessing child pornography are all illegal in New Zealand. Palau        All forms of child pornography are illegal in Palau. This law makes no exceptions for simple possession, photographs, films, videos, pictures, and computer-generated images or pictures. Papua New Guinea        All forms of pornography (including websites) are illegal in Papua New Guinea. Child pornography is punishable by 5 to 15 years' imprisonment and/or a fine up to 2 million kina. Samoa        Samoan law specifies a seven-year prison sentence for any person found guilty of possessing, publishing, distributing, or exhibiting indecent material featuring a child. Solomon Islands        Child pornography is illegal in the Solomon Islands, and carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment. Tonga        Child pornography and possession is illegal in Tonga with penalties of a maximum fine of TOP 100,000 ($43,000) or a maximum of 10 years in prison for individuals. Using children younger than 14 in the production of pornography is not criminalized. Tuvalu        All forms of pornography are prohibited, and the penal code includes penalties for those who make, distribute, or possess obscene publications. However, Tuvaluan law does not specifically address child pornography. Vanuatu        The maximum penalty in Vanuatu for publishing child pornography is five years' imprisonment, and for possession, two years' imprisonment. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary=== South America === Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary Argentina        Article 128 of the Argentine penal code prohibits the possession and distribution of child pornography with prison sentences between four months and one year for possession and three to six years for distribution. Fictional child pornography is in a legal gray area as the law does not specifically mention it. Bolivia        Child pornography is illegal, and is persecuted in Bolivia. Sentences are punishable by privation of freedom from 2 to 6 years. Fictional child pornography and possession thereof remains legal. Brazil         Production, distribution and possession of child pornography is illegal, and prosecuted in Brazil in accordance with its "Code of Minors". Fictional child pornography and possession thereof remains legal. Chile        Possession of child pornography real or faked, or any representation of their genitalia with the purpose of sexual gratification is illegal under Chilean law. Sentences are punishable from 541 days to 5 years imprisonment depending on the situation. Colombia        Real child pornography is illegal and is prosecuted in Colombia. The Supreme Court of Justice of Colombia ruled in 2018 that "artificial child pornography" is not a crime. This applies to non nude photographs, drawings, animation, and situations that do not involve actual abuse. Ecuador        The possession, storing, fabrication or distribution of child pornography or any other kind of sexually explicit pedophile material is illegal under Ecuadorian law. Guyana        There are no laws in Guyana that specifically prohibit child pornography. The sale, publishing, or exhibiting of obscene material, defined as anything that could deprive or corrupt those open to immoral influences is instead subject to regulations. Paraguay        Child pornography involving actual children is illegal in Paraguay. Virtual forms were not included in the "Paraguayan Criminal Code" of 1997.Peru        Child pornography is illegal in Peru under article 183-A of the penal code except for fictional material that does not depict a real child. Suriname        Child pornography is prohibited in Suriname. Convictions carry a maximum penalty of six years' imprisonment and maximum fine of SRD 50,000 ($6,650). Uruguay         All forms of child pornography are illegal, but Uruguay does not prohibit simple possession. Venezuela        Venezuela does not prohibit the simple possession of child pornography. But sale and distribution of child pornography is illegal and punished by fines and/or imprisonment from 3 months to 4 years. There are no laws that criminalize fictional forms. Country Real Fictional Possession Short summary
See also *Legal status of fictional pornography depicting minors*List of pornography laws by country
Notes
References
External links **