To protect minors, the Senate adopted an amendment proposing a control of the age of Internet users to publishers of pornographic sites. A news that should delight many specialists, according to whom pornography has very harmful consequences on the health and romantic relationships of adolescents.
- The Senate adopted an amendment proposing a control of the age of Internet users to publishers of pornographic sites.
- The text proposes to allow the CSA to send publishers of sites “often based in tax havens” an injunction so that they comply with the law.
- According to experts, the increasing consumption of porn among young people would impinge on their emotional relationships and have harmful consequences on their health.
The objective is to protect minors. On the night of Tuesday June 9 to Wednesday June 10, the Senate adopted an amendment proposing a control of the age of Internet users to publishers of pornographic sites. This one was carried by the senator Les Républicains Marie Mercier and is part of the proposal of the LREM law for better “protect victims of domestic violence”. The latter was also adopted unanimously at first reading, after the National Assembly. “In principle, article 227-24 of the Penal Code makes it possible to sanction sites which disseminate pornographic images likely to be seen by a minor”. The penalty incurred is three years in prison and a fine of €75,000.
In order for justice to reach the publisher of porn sites, “often based in tax havens that do not cooperate with France”, the text proposes to allow the Superior council of audio-visual (CSA) to address an injunction to them so that they put themselves in conformity with the law. The publisher will then have 15 days to do so. If he refuses, the CSA can then “seize the president of the Paris court so that he orders the operators to make it impossible to access these sites, which could therefore no longer be consulted from France.
To identify the age of Internet users, the amendment advances several tools such as FranceConnect, used in particular by taxes and Social Security. The latter allows access to several services with a single account. The use of a blue card reserved for those over 16 is also an advanced option. “This system is inspired by the one put in place to fight against illegal online gambling circles, which is based on the control exercised by the Regulatory Authority for Online Games”. is it specified.
The sexuality of young people conditioned and formatted by porn?
This bill was passed when in 2018, a large Ipsos survey showed that in France, 21% of 14-24 year olds watched pornographic videos at least once a week. Very concerned about the results of this survey, members of the National College of French Gynecologists and Obstetricians (Cngof) then launched a call to the government to protect young people from pornography.
Today, the amendment should strongly appeal to Thérès Hargot, sexologist, lecturer and trainer in emotional life and author of What could save love? (Albin Michel), who, in an interview for Marianne published on June 10, regrets that the “sex has become a consumer product like any other”. The specialist regrets the “drastic reduction in sexual relations within the couple, especially young couples” while sex is increasingly practiced outside. Whether individually, through porn”ultra-accessible at any time of the day” and sex toys, increasingly used or extramarital on apps like Gleeden. Not to mention that dating apps push to consume people, “because we are going to choose a guy or a woman, like we choose a pair of shoes or a car”denounces Thérès Hargot.
“All these phenomena contribute to a commodification of sex”, she warns. Today, adolescent sexualityis formatted and conditioned by an industry that does not try to teach them to say ‘I love you’ through the bodyshe regrets. I often hear in my office: ‘I don’t understand, it works very well in front of porn, but not with my wife/my fiancée/my girlfriend’. Their sexuality works by a protocol defined by porn: a sexual drive, two-three clicks to find images that will cause sexual arousal, masturbation and pleasure.
The sexologist expands on her remarks. “There are continuity between exposure to pornography among minors and the fact that they very easily consume sexual services, such as prostitution. Because pornography is only filmed prostitution.”
Adverse consequences on development and health
In 2011, a study on the sexuality of adolescents showed in particular that their growing consumption of pornography could have very negative consequences on their development and health. It would thus promote anxiety attacks, sleep disorders, feelings of guilt or even a distorted representation of sexuality and romantic relationships.
Worried about the results of their study, health professionals therefore asked for better legislation on minors’ access to pornographic content. Currently, the only method of controlling sites is to force the user to click on an “I’m over 18” button where any minor can pretend to be an adult.
“Access providers should have the obligation to prevent minors from consulting pornographic sites by imposing codes provided from the presentation of proof of majority or by imposing a systematic bank card; and for those who do not respect this obligation, it is necessary to attack them with the wallet by inflicting them penalties which are not symbolic: 10 million euros with the first prank, 50 in the event of repetition”challenged the authors of these works.
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