Sweden Restricts Live Sex Work on OnlyFans Starting July 1, 2025

Sweden is set to restrict certain activities on OnlyFans, the subscription-based platform where creators share adult or explicit content. While access to pre-recorded material remains legal, live, commissioned sexual services—such as cam shows or sex chats—are now classified as digital prostitution.

On Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Sweden’s parliament passed a landmark law banning live, paid sexual performances online, including on platforms like OnlyFans. The legislation takes effect on Monday, July 1, 2025, making it a criminal offence to pay for live sexual acts via video.

Key Points of the New Law

The law updates Sweden’s long-standing zero-tolerance approach to prostitution, extending it to online platforms:

• Illegal: Paying for live online sexual performances; profiting from or promoting such content.

• Legal: Paying for or watching pre-recorded content that wasn’t custom-ordered.

“This is a new form of sex purchase,” said Social Democrat MP Teresa Carvalho. “It’s high time we modernise the legislation to include digital platforms.” Fellow MP Sanna Backeskog noted the law is necessary because digital sex work can blur the lines between pornography, trafficking, and abuse. “[This is about] digitalised prostitution,” she said, citing concerns about grooming and exploitation.

Impact on OnlyFans in Sweden

Sweden has not banned OnlyFans outright but has restricted certain types of content.

Allowed:

• Watching and paying for pre-recorded sexual content

• Subscribing to creators who don’t offer live shows

Banned:

• Paying for live sexual performances

• Promoting or profiting from live sexual content

Global Context

Sweden joins a broader international debate on regulating digital sex work and protecting vulnerable individuals, including minors and trafficking victims. Some countries have fully banned OnlyFans, while others impose partial restrictions.

Countries where OnlyFans is banned or blocked:
Afghanistan, Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, China, India (creators only), Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates

OnlyFans Response

A company spokesperson told USA Today that OnlyFans “complies with all laws and regulations” in the countries it operates. Despite this, creators worldwide face increasing restrictions, even in nations without outright bans.

Looking Ahead

Sweden’s law may influence other European countries to re-examine digital sex work regulations. As the line between social media fame, adult content, and exploitation continues to blur, governments may seek to balance freedom of expression with online protection.

Source: EuroWeekly News