НШСУ-en

Criminal law countermeasures against the circulation of pornography: current legislative challenges

Slovo of the National School of Judges of Ukraine. №1(54) 2026. P.116-125

ISSN: 2707-6849       

UDC343.54

DOI https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-11

PDF

 

Vitalii KUZNETSOV,

Chief Researcher of the Department ofScientific-Legal Expertises

of the Institute of Lawmaking and Scientific-Legal Expertises of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Doctor of Law, Professor

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1727-4019

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Criminal law countermeasures against the circulation of pornography: current legislative challenges


Abstract 

The article is devoted to law-making activities in the field of combating pornography in Ukraine in the context of European integration and the Russian-Ukrainian war. The relevance of the study is due to the fact that the legislator is forced to respond to threats to privacy and manifestations of digital violence against individuals. An analysis of the draft Law of Ukraine No. 14165 of 29 October 2025 has made it possible to formulate the reasons for revising the traditional approach to the criminalisation of actions involving pornographic items (Article 301 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The prospects for further criminalisation of the most socially dangerous manifestations of pornography circulation (exploitation, coercion, involvement of minors, distribution of materials without the consent of the person) are substantiated. Particular attention is paid to the innovation of draft law No. 14165 – the introduction of a special provision on liability for the illegal distribution of intimate materials and sexual content without the consent of the victim, in particular in the forms of «revenge porn» and the use of artificial intelligence technologies (deepfake).

The article summarises European experience, which is dominated by a model of partial legalisation of the circulation of «adult» content, while strengthening criminal law protection of children and prohibiting violent forms of pornography production. The study argues that the definition of the limits of criminalisation should be based on standards of privacy protection (constitutional guarantees and approaches of the European Convention on Human Rights), as well as on the principle of proportionality of state intervention. It concludes that draft law No. 14165 is generally in line with current European trends and could contribute to the harmonisation of national criminal legislation with the EU acquis, but that some of its provisions need further refinement.

Keywords: adaptation, draft law, criminalisation, criminal offence, morality, pornographic material, privacy, sexual freedom.

References

  1. Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo kryminalnykh pravoporushen proty bezpeky osoby: proekt Zakonu Ukrainy vid 29 zhovtnia 2025 r. № 14165. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/58611 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  2. Denysov S. F., Haryha-Hrykhno M. M. (2023). Protydiia dytiachii pornohrafii u krainakh Yevropeiskoho Soiuzu. Visnyk Kryminolohichnoi asotsiatsii Ukrainy, 1(28), 87–98. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32631/vca.2023.1.07 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  3. Kuznetsov V. V. (2012). Kryminalno-pravova okhorona hromadskoho poriadku ta moralnosti v ukrainskomu vymiri: monohrafiia. Kyiv: Interservis, 908 (in Ukr.).
  4. U Radi zareiestruvaly zakonoproekt pro dekryminalizatsiiu pornohrafii. Ukrinform. 18.08.2023. URL: https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-society/3749983-u-radi-zareestruvali-zakonoproekt-pro-dekriminalizaciu-pornografii.html (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  5. Dekryminalizatsiia pornohrafii – u Radi zareiestruvaly zakonoproekt № 9623. BRDO. 18.08.2023. URL: https://brdo.com.ua/news/dekryminalizatsiya-pornografiyi-u-radi-zareyestruvaly-zakonoproyekt-9623/ (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  6. Poiasniuvalna zapyska do proektu Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo kryminalnykh pravoporushen proty bezpeky osoby» vid 29 zhovtnia 2025 r. № 14165. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/58611 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  7. Kuznetsov V. V. (2025). Reformuvannia kryminalnoi vidpovidalnosti za pornohrafiiu: suchasni problemy pravotvorchosti. Aktualni problemy kryminalnoho prava: materialy XVI Vseukr. nauk.-teoret. konf., prysviach. pamiati prof. P. P. Mykhailenka (Kyiv, 27 lystop. 2025 r.). Kyiv: NAVS, 112–116 (in Ukr.).
  8. Poiasniuvalna zapyska do proektu Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo zabezpechennia svobody vid vtruchannia v pryvatne zhyttia liudyny» vid 18 serpnia 2023 r. № 9623. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/42525 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  9. Kodeks karny Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej: ustawa z dnia 6 czerwca 1997 r. URL: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU19970880553/O/D19970553.pdf (accessed: 06.04.2026) (in Pols.).
  10. Vysnovok Holovnoho naukovo-ekspertnoho upravlinnia Aparatu Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy na proekt Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo kryminalnykh pravoporushen proty bezpeky osoby» vid 29 zhovtnia 2025 r. № 14165. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/58611 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).
  11. Pornography and Human Rights. European Center for Law and Justice. Strasbourg, 2019. URL: http://media.aclj.org/pdf/Pornographyand-Human-Rights,-European-Centre-for-Law-and-Justice,-October-2019.pdf (accessed: 06.04.2026) 
  12. Gender aspects and human rights implications of pornography: Resolution 2412 (2021) of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. URL: https://pace.coe.int/en/files/29579/html (accessed: 06.04.2026)  
  13. Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo zabezpechennia svobody vid vtruchannia v pryvatne zhyttia liudyny: proekt Zakonu Ukrainy vid 18 serpnia 2023 r. № 9623. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/42525 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026)  (in Ukr.).
  14. Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo posylennia vidpovidalnosti za vvezennia, vyhotovlennia, zbut i rozpovsiudzhennia pornohrafichnykh predmetiv malolitnim i nepovnolitnim ta vdoskonalennia inshykh polozhen statti 301: proekt Zakonu Ukrainy vid 31 serpnia 2023 r. № 9623-1. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/42631 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026)   (in Ukr.).
  15. Poiasniuvalna zapyska do proektu Zakonu Ukrainy «Pro vnesennia zmin do Kryminalnoho kodeksu Ukrainy shchodo posylennia vidpovidalnosti za vvezennia, vyhotovlennia, zbut i rozpovsiudzhennia pornohrafichnykh predmetiv malolitnim i nepovnolitnim ta vdoskonalennia inshykh polozhen statti 301» vid 31 serpnia 2023 r. № 9623-1. URL: https://itd.rada.gov.ua/billinfo/Bills/Card/42631 (data zvernennia: 06.04.2026) (in Ukr.).

 

SuggestedCitation: Kuznetsov, V.  (2026) Criminal law countermeasures against the circulation of pornography: current legislative challenges. Slovo National School of Judges of Ukraine, 1 (54), 116–125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.37566/2707-6849-2026-1(54)-11


Date of first submission of the article to the publication: 01.03.2026

Date of acceptance of the article for publication after review: 13.04.2026

Date of publication (publication): 22.04.2026