After the news that Iceland is considering blocking online pornography, reports have emerged saying the UK may follow its lead. But is this even possible? Dr Brooke Magnanti examines the practicalities.
My first reaction on hearing that Iceland was considering banning internet pornography was that you probably shouldn't buy your porn where you buy your frozen prawn cocktail rings anyway.
Seriously, though, Iceland (the country, not the supermarket) has been considering whether to ban internet erotica - there has apparently been a ban on printed pornography in place for some time, but who looks at that anymore?
It is perhaps inevitable news, given that Iceland has been lauded by some as the "most feminist" country in the world for its recent bans of prostitution and strip clubs, with some surprising supporters of criminalising commercialised sexuality.
With the suggestion mooted those who oppose pornography in this country will no doubt be looking on with interest. Iceland, a fellow island nation, would perhaps serve as inspiration to those who might want to do the same thing. Would it work there, or by extension, here?
Because of Iceland's small and remarkably non-diverse population, there are a number of controls in place there that people in Britain would find entirely unacceptable; so perhaps a porn ban wouldn't trouble them in the circumstances? For example all residents of Iceland have a unique ID number which is used widely for non-governmental applications (such as hiring DVDs).
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