STOCKHOLM —

Sweden, long known for its tough stance on prostitution, is once again tightening the screws — this time reaching beyond the streets and into the screens of smartphones and laptops.

In early 2025, the Swedish government introduced sweeping proposals to expand its Sex Purchase Act, a cornerstone of the country's Nordic Model approach. For the first time, the criminalization of buying sexual services would extend to include "remote" acts — such as webcam performances, erotic livestreams, and explicit content sold directly via digital platforms.

The move marks a significant shift, pushing Sweden into largely untested legal territory. And while officials argue it is a necessary update to protect vulnerable individuals in the digital age, critics warn that it could have far-reaching consequences for free expression, privacy rights, and the livelihoods of thousands of independent sex workers operating online.

"This is not just about criminalizing 'Johns' on the street," said one legal expert who asked to remain anonymous due to political sensitivity. "This is about surveilling and policing intimate interactions happening entirely online. It’s a massive escalation."

Old Laws, New Enforcement

Sweden’s tough stance on prostitution is not new. Since 1999, the country has famously criminalized the purchase of sex, while allowing the sale — a model designed to reduce demand without punishing those selling sexual services, particularly women.

What’s new is the aggressive extension of this framework into digital spaces.

Under the proposed law, paying for a private webcam show or subscribing to erotic content could be grounds for prosecution, even if no physical contact occurs.

Simultaneously, another long-standing law is being dusted off: the ban on distributing pornography involving violence or coercion. Despite being on the books since 1989, enforcement had been sporadic at best. Now, with feminist groups sounding the alarm about the prevalence of violent imagery in mainstream porn, authorities are under pressure to clamp down.

Research by Swedish women’s organizations found that 88 percent of top-selling pornographic videos depicted acts of violence or degradation against women. Activists argue that failing to enforce the law amounts to institutional neglect of women’s rights.

How Sweden Fits Into Global Trends

Sweden is not moving in isolation. Globally, governments are grappling with the fast-changing realities of online sex work and the dark side of internet pornography.

• Norway and France have flirted with expanding Nordic Model principles into online spaces, though not yet as extensively as Sweden now proposes.
• The United States, under the controversial FOSTA-SESTA laws, cracked down on online platforms like Backpage, driving many sex workers into riskier situations.
• Germany and New Zealand have instead leaned toward decriminalization, recognizing sex work as labor deserving of workplace protections.
• Canada's attempt to criminalize sex buyers has faced ongoing constitutional challenges, with courts warning it could endanger sex workers' safety.

When it comes to policing violent pornography, few countries have taken concrete action. The UK’s failed attempts at mandatory age verification laws, and Australia’s struggles with online censorship, highlight the difficulty of legislating what many argue are complex matters of consent and expression.

In this landscape, Sweden’s latest moves position it as a hardliner — not the first to act, but among the most aggressive.

Raising More Questions Than Answers

While Swedish officials frame the new measures as modernizations of existing laws, many within Sweden and abroad see them as opening a Pandora’s box of legal and ethical dilemmas.

How will authorities distinguish between consensual adult content and "criminal" digital sex acts?

Will online sex workers, many of whom operate independently for financial survival, now face greater dangers by being driven underground?

And what does it mean for ordinary consumers who, knowingly or unknowingly, engage with erotic content produced abroad?

"Technology has outpaced the law," said a digital rights advocate based in Malmö. "But trying to criminalize what happens between consenting adults over the internet is like trying to hold back the tide with a broom."

As Sweden moves forward, the world will be watching — whether as admirers of bold policy or cautionary witnesses to unintended consequences.