Switzerland already has a national ban in place that prohibits the sale of pornography to minors, but the Senate argued that the existing legislation is inadequate.
“In a porno cinema or sex shop, one can control the age of the clients. But telecom operators and their distributors have no means to do so; users can be registered under the parent’s name,” Sen. Rolf Schweiger said. “Being confronted with pornography at an early age can harm emotional development, for example, by making a child believe that sexuality involves humiliation, or that women are objects.”
The vote marks a reversal for Christoph Blocher, minister of justice and police, who argued that the existing laws were sufficient to shield minors from adult content.
The Swiss House of Representatives now will vote on the issue.