Romanian Lower House Committee For Human Rights Approves Internet Pornography Bill

Deputy Sergiu Andon said the committee changed the bill’s name from „Law regulating pornographic activities and access to pornographic materials” to „Law for the protection of minors regarding access to pornographic materials.” The deputies also changed article 1 to state the bill’s explicit purpose to regulate pornography in order to protect children.

Another amendment says that, within 90 days of the law taking effect, the National Communications and IT Regulation Authority will issue recommendations on the registration of pornographic websites with a database that may be accessed by public or private institutions seeking to include the websites in parental control software.

The committee retained an article requiring such websites to request a password and allow access only after charging a fee.

The act will now be debated by the Chamber of Deputies committee for culture, which will issue a report for the plenum.

The bill, sponsored by the Government, was rejected in the Senate.