Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Russia bans online pornography, tells its citizens to "meet people in real life"

Pornhub and YouPorn have been banned by Russian internet service providers after they were found to violate child protection laws.

shutterstock_457287796 (1) Shutterstock / Dean Drobot Shutterstock / Dean Drobot / Dean Drobot

RUSSIA HAS EXECUTED a ban on two of the world’s largest pornographic websites.

Pornhub and YouPorn are two of the 11 sites which were officially banned yesterday after a decision was taken last year by Russian authorities that such sites violate child protection laws.

Russia’s internet service providers had until yesterday to officially institute the ban.

The decision has led to some slightly bizarre communication on social media.

The Russian state’s media watchdog, Roskomnadzor, last year told one Twitter user who had expressed her dismay at no longer being able to avail of online pornography to “try meeting people in real life”.

rosk Twitter Twitter

Yesterday the same Twitter account declared that advice to be “still relevant”.

Such bans of websites are relatively commonplace in Russia, with Roskomnadzor operating a blacklist containing thousands of sites.

PornHub meanwhile took to Twitter itself to request an “unban” of its services in exchange for granting Roskomnadzor a free premium account.

Roskomnadzor wasn’t biting however: “Sorry we are not in the market and the demography is not a commodity,” was the reply.

Read: A gigantic inflatable moon is causing havoc in China

Read: Daughter sues parents in Austria for posting photos of her on Facebook

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
67 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds