There is simply a collection of signatures under a civilian bill designed to limit children's access to pornography. The action is simply a consequence to the increasing problem of young people utilizing pornography. This was the subject of a press conference organised by the citizens' legislative initiative committee. The event was attended by well-known politicians – Deputy Marshal of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak, MPs Maria Kurowska, Bartłomiej Wróblewski and Piotr Usciński, and erstwhile Undersecretary of State in the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy Barbara Socha. Publicists – Rafał Ziemkiewicz and Jan Pospojalski besides spoke. You can join the initiative by downloading a card to the signatures from stopdrugowipornography.pl.
MORE ABOUT THE INITIATIVE – LINK
Studies show that children have their first contact with pornography at an average age of 11. Watching pornography affects the child’s developing brain. The mechanics of dependence on specified content is very akin to drug dependence. Experts besides indicate that pornography impairs the ability to make long-term relationships. In addition, pornographic content is mostly violent, making people watching pornography more aggressive.
In any countries, effective mechanisms have already been introduced to defend children from pornography on the Internet. About 20 U.S. states decided to do so. In the UK, however, the law on this substance came into force in 2023. Pornographic services operating there, which do not comply with the requirements of effective age verification, can be fined and blocked. In fresh weeks, France has introduced specified solutions. The media surveillance office there gave pornographic platform administrators 3 months to introduce mechanisms to prevent children from utilizing the website. Italy is preparing to implement akin provisions.
The bill prepared by Ordo Iuris and the Centre for Life and Family, supported by respective twelve social organizations, assumes that the Minister liable for digitization will oblige pornographic services to implement effective verification of users' age. Platforms that do not comply with these rules will be punished by blocking and cutting off access to payment services.
The conference was opened by Marcin Perłowski, manager of the Center for Life and Family. He pointed to a large scale collection of signatures.
– We're here today, but we've been in different cities for weeks. We're in parishes, we're on the streets of the city. This collection is gaining momentum – he stressed.
Lidia Sankowska-Grabczuk from the Coalition for Life and household then spoke. It pointed to the far-reaching social consequences of youth pornography.
Pornography is the hell of women, but not just women. Pornography is the hell of children, the hell of men, the hell of full Polish families. It affects not only the individual, but besides the families, and consequently the full society – she noted.
Deputy talker of the Sejm Krzysztof Bosak stressed that the success of the initiative is conditional on a broad emphasis on the ruling.
– More social force is needed on politicians. It must be shown that the public is behind the originators of specified projects. We request the voices of people with a network-oriented environment and IT solutions to convince those who have doubts that it is possible to verify the age anonymously, that this is not about net censorship," said the politician.
In turn, Maria Kurowska stressed that pornography has a devastating effect on young people's lives and their relationships.
– I would like to thank Ordo Iuris for the ever-increasing Centre of Life and household for the fact that they are one more time performing with specified an crucial task and besides involving us Members. As adults, we gotta save children, due to the fact that pornography ruins their complete knowing of intimate life, their knowing of love. Then let's not be amazed that we have more and more children's suicides," said the MP.
Barbara Socha, councillor of the Capital City of Warsaw, besides spoke about the negative wellness consequences of viewing pornography.
– We already know from a number of different studies present that pornography affects the brain of developing children and young people as much as the regular usage of drugs. These are permanent changes. It is our work to introduce restrictions so that our children are not exposed to this drug, which devastates their physical, intellectual and spiritual lives – the Undersecretary of State at the MRPiPS noted.
On the another hand, Piotr Uściński noted that this bill aims to support parents in preventing the usage of pornography in their children.
– I am convinced that almost all parents want their children not to have access to pornography and specified harmful content. However, most parents do not cope with this problem at technological level. For this it is so crucial that, in accordance with the rule of subsidiarity, where the household is incapable to cope, state aid is provided," he stressed.
Mr Bartłomiej Wróblewski, on the another hand, pointed out the broad support that the regulation of access to pornography among children enjoys in society.
– For various reasons, the issue of children's access to pornography has not been resolved in erstwhile word of office of the Sejm. There's a fresh chance tonight. Therefore, I would like to thank Ordo Iuris, the Centre for Life and household and all those involved. It is evident that it has cross-party support – he pointed out.
Rafał Ziemkiewicz, on the another hand, emphasized that there is immense money behind the pornographic business and only force on politicians can halt its reach.
– A strong lobby must be overcome, which operates with immense money. This can only be done through solidarity and the engagement of citizens, so that the money allocated to corrupting different environments is not adequate to clearly argue the will of all citizens. Therefore, we should all support this action and engage in it by collecting signatures – the publicist urged.
Jan Więprajalski pointed out that pornography is present full of force and leads to aggressive behaviour.
– Children today, by 2 clicks, on the subway, at school, on break, have access to toxic content. Suppliers of this drug escalate content to pathological and criminal things. There are so many scary content that we gotta fight it – he argued.
For the task to go to the Sejm, 100,000 signatures are needed. They must be submitted by 23 December at the latest.
Photos: Tomasz Daniluk/Ordo Iuris
