AMSTERDAM — The Riksdag, Sweden’s parliament, has approved a proposal to criminalize purchasing sexual services performed remotely by streamers and custom content creators.
As XBIZ reported last month, Swedish law already 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 law, anyone who pays someone to perform a sexual act online, without actual physical contact, will now be subject to the same criminal liability as those who hire in-person sex workers.
The law 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 creators have expressed concern 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 even criminalize their personal lives, since living with a partner or receiving support could now be considered “pimping.”
An OnlyFans spokeswoman told XBIZ, "OnlyFans complies with all laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which it operates," but did not elaborate on any specific compliance measures in response to the new law.
A LoyalFans rep said that the company does not have any comment at the moment.
The European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance and Red Umbrella Sweden issued a joint statement condemning the new law.
"This shameful decision places Sweden among countries willing to sacrifice human rights, digital freedom, and the voices of its most marginalised in favour of paternalistic ideology that has proven to be harmful time and again," the statement reads. "Criminalising the purchase of digital sexual services will not stop exploitation. It will only push workers further into the shadows."
The statement warns that platforms are likely to respond with censorship and over-enforcement, "punishing sex workers while claiming compliance."
"Under the Swedish model, partners, family members and housemates of sex workers are prosecuted as 'pimps' simply for sharing housing or household expenses," the statement notes. "Police raid homes, seize phones, coerce access to private communications and comb through bank accounts without consent. Sex workers are made homeless by fearful landlords who are worried to be prosecuted. These are not theoretical risks. They are lived realities."
Swedish creator Cara, who goes by ScandiDreamgirl, told XBIZ, "I and many other creators are extremely worried about how the sites will act when the law comes into effect July 1. Sadly, none of the sites are willing to answer that question."
Cara added that she is moving to Denmark and is hoping to set up her business there before creator platforms close her accounts or shutter operations in Sweden.