The number of criminal cases for distributing pornography, punishable under Article 173 of the Penal Code, has increased 63% since 2008.
According to the Ministerio Publico, in 2008 there were 52 cases, 59 in 2009, 60 in 2010, 68 in 2011 and 82 last year. In all cases minors were involved, either exposing minors to pornography and distributing pornography with depictions of minors. The law punishes offenders with from one to four years in prison.
The Fiscalía Adjunta de Género (prosecutor), Cristian Darcia, added that since 2007 the law also criminalizes possession of pornographic material involving minors.
In the case of possession of child poronography, the penalty is between six months and two years prison. Darcia said that in 2008 there were two such cases, seven in 2009, nine each in 2010 an 2011 and three last year.
