STOCKHOLM — The Swedish government has asked the country’s Parliament to amend Swedish law so that current laws against purchasing sexual services would also apply to acts performed remotely by cammers, streamers and custom content creators.
Current Swedish law criminalizes purchasing or procuring in-person sexual services, but does not criminalize sex workers who provide such services. This approach is commonly referred to as the “Nordic model.”
Under the new proposal, anyone who pays someone to perform a sexual act online, without actual physical contact, would be subject to the same criminal liability as those who hire in-person sex workers.
The proposal also includes liability for “procuring” such services, which could lead to enforcement against fan and webcam platforms, or conceivably even against creators who collaborate together.
Swedish creator Cara, who goes by ScandiDreamgirl, told XBIZ that she has been in touch with other Swedish content creators and cam models about the proposed law. According to Cara, the most common concerns among the creators are that, under the new law, OnlyFans' and other creator platforms' terms of service could preclude Swedish creators from using the site; and that the law could criminalize their personal lives.
"Living with a partner or receiving any form of support could now be considered pimping on their part," Cara told XBIZ. "If this law takes effect, we stand to lose our entire livelihoods overnight as platforms are forced to exclude Swedish creators. Lawmakers claim this is meant to protect us, but how is forcing us into poverty, isolation and legal jeopardy a form of protection?"
Meanwhile, Onlyfans creator Sanna Zentio told Swedish outlet TV4, “It feels like the politicians don't really understand what we are working with digitally or actually doing … Many of us work very independently, safely and legally, and a proposal like this risks hitting hard on those who have chosen to leave the traditional sex industry for a safer and more controlled work environment.”
Similarly, a creator named Cina told Swedish public broadcaster SVT, “It's my safe place. I can do my work without meeting people,” and said she would be forced to leave Sweden if the proposal becomes law.