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Fact check: Can a 16 or 17 year old be in a porn legally in Latvia?
1. Summary of the results
The age of consent in Latvia is 16 years old, as stated in the Latvian Criminal Law, Section 161 [1]. This is consistent with other sources, which confirm that the age of consent in Latvia is indeed 16 [2]. However, the question of whether a 16 or 17 year old can be in porn legally in Latvia is more complex. While the age of consent is 16, involving a minor in the production of pornography is punishable by up to 12 years in prison [3] [4]. The production of pornographic material involving minors is also punishable under Article 166 of the Criminal Law [5].
2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints
The original statement lacks context regarding the specific laws and regulations surrounding pornography in Latvia. Alternative viewpoints include the fact that Latvia does not have a close-in-age exemption, meaning that even consensual sexual activity between individuals both under 16 could potentially be prosecuted [6]. Additionally, the fact that the minimum age for consensual sex is 16, but involving a minor in the production of pornography is punishable by up to 12 years in prison, suggests that there may be different standards for sexual activity and pornography [3]. Different organizations, such as the United States Department of State, have reported on human rights in Latvia, including the protection of children from exploitation [3] [4].
3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement
The original statement may be considered misleading, as it implies that a 16 or 17 year old can be in porn legally in Latvia, when in fact, involving a minor in the production of pornography is punishable by up to 12 years in prison [3] [4]. The statement also lacks context regarding the specific laws and regulations surrounding pornography in Latvia, which could lead to confusion [1] [2]. No source directly addresses the legality of 16 or 17 year olds being in porn in Latvia, but rather provides information on the age of consent and the production of pornographic material involving minors [7] [8] [5] [9] [1] [2] [6] [3] [4].