Illicit Publishing

Many countries have laws about the types of materials that can be published. The laws cover books magazines and the written word, movies and even types of music. Thus in North Korea just about the only type of legal music is a military march. Whilst in China at one time the only films glorified the party and Mao were allowed. Many muslim countries forbid the sale of alcohol. Our own laws prevent the publishing of official secrets. We have a board of film censors who label films and say which parts can not be shown. In this country the forbidden includes certain types of sexual activity and extreme violence.

The problem is cultures vary and there is a market in what is illicit. A person working in one country can make say an image or a statement that is perfectly legal in that country whilst it might be illegal or viewed as subversive in another. The internet meant that sales can occur across country boundaries with relative ease.

People often equate this publishing to the sex industry. But there are many other aspects, including weapons sales, incitement to racial hatred, sale of drugs, and recruitment into outlawed religious cults.

© LEV