Ban on Looking at Child Porn Insisted by Sweden's Queen Silvia

Sweden's Queen Silvia wants Sweden to follow the example of neighbouring Denmark and Norway and make it illegal to systematically look at child pornography, she said in an interview on Saturday.

"It would be excellent if we could have (a ban) in Sweden too.... It would be very important if we could go as far as Norway and Denmark," the 64-year-old royal told Swedish public radio.

Anyone who produces, purchases or is in possession of pornographic images featuring children risks up to six years behind bars in Sweden, but just looking at such pictures on the Internet is not illegal.

Even after someone is convicted for producing, purchasing or downloading child porn, "these pictures and images remain on the Internet" where others can continue to look at them, Queen Silvia said.

Asked whether Swedes' personal rights could be violated with such a law, the queen, a mother of three known for her commitment to children's rights, said the rights of the victims came first.

"This is about children's suffering. I think the children come first," she said.

Experts have in the past noted that the number of people in Sweden who look at child pornography has soared due to the rising use of the Internet, where it is readily available.

Source-AFP
SPH