Internet pornography was outlawed in China effective 2002, when state censors issued guidelines requiring that all websites remove any pornographic material. The government started a crackdown in 2004.

In some of the Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines) there is a complete ban of pornography. In Pakistan too pornography is illegal and the governments imposed a 100 per cent ban since 2011. All the Middle Eastern countries ban all forms of pornography.

Countries with a partial ban:

India altogether has different legal recourse. Possession of pornography is purely legal where as its distribution is illegal. In the cyber world, Section 67 of the Information technology deals with “publishing obscene information in electronic form” in India.

The same system in Australia where possession of pornography material is permitted, but it is an offense to sell, exhibit or rent.

In Russia the laws are unclear.

Countries where pornography is legal:

The 18-plus age limit restriction is imposed but pornography is legal.

In Canada, sale of hardcore pornography is illegal to anyone under the age of 18 (19 in some provinces), but anyone above that age may own or possess pornography.

In US pornography is lawful at the federal level, but is subject to the Miller test. Advocates for pornography are staunch defenders of the 1st Amendment, free speech, and the arts; while its critics and detractors have blamed it for a succession of societal ailments as well as a general religious downfall. Pornography between consenting adults is legal in most Latin American countries.

Most of the the European countries also have a legal recourse on pornography. In UK (England and Wales main legislation on pornographic materials is the Obscene Publications Act 1959, the Obscene Publications Act 1964, and the Indecent Displays (Control) Act 1981.

Note: Data has been compiled from various online sources.