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Since the dawn of the internet age the prominence of pornography on the web has dominated debate, despite the fact that pornography only accounts for about 11 per cent of all internet traffic. Perhaps it is because pornography is so much more accessible than in the past which has led to concern amongst some elements about the deterioration of morality in society and the potential exposure of children to pornographic images. For some people this provides enough reason to justify censorship.

Often what self-appointed moral guardians really want to see is the end of the dissemination of pornography altogether. It is easy to attack the internet, though, because with a few clicks of a mouse people can access from the comfort of their own homes a wide range of pornographic videos, images, and stories. Sometimes they do not even have to pay for the privilege, as pornographic sites may choose to provide free teasers' to entice people in.

All tastes are catered for, which has led to the creation of communities, so that people with a taste for BDSM are able to communicate with others of a similar disposition throughout the world. Thus, formerly obscure sexual activities and practices have entered the mainstream consciousness, which some sections of society would see as a bad thing.

Claims have even been made that extreme pornography' increases the likelihood of men turning to rape, and maybe even murder. This has led the U.K. government to enact legislation which makes the possession of extreme pornography' illegal, despite the lack of evidence to suggest such a link. It is hard to imagine such this law being successfully enforced, though, because it is quite vague as to what constitutes extreme pornography'. One person may perceive something to be extreme which another does not, and who is ultimately to decide?

The whole problem with censorship is that it stifles freedom of speech and expression, as many creators end up choosing not to push boundaries in order to conform to laws which are formulated by a tiny minority of people, who are hardly representative of the population at large. The people who drive calls for censorship end up believing that they are justified in their moralistic approach to such matters when governments introduce legislation at their behest. Censorship is a slippery slope, though, and soon even relatively harmless images get swept away in a hysterical sense of morality initiated by a handful of individuals who believe sex is at the heart of all social ills.

The international nature of the internet makes it difficult for governments to formulate any comprehensive legislation which could prevent the distribution of pornography and to censor what are perceived to be unacceptable images. There has been a clampdown on child pornography, which has required international cooperation, but this is easier to achieve when child abuse is such a reprehensible act.
Achieving unity over the acceptability of pornography when it involves consenting adults is unlikely to come to pass. Individual nations may try to legislate against certain types of pornography, but unless they are prepared to act in a manner similar to that of totalitarian states, they are unlikely to succeed in curbing the demand for, and thus supply of pornography.

Learn more about this author, Michelle Wilkinson.
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