Fact check: Does any country allow someone under 18 years old to make porn?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, no country legally allows individuals under 18 years old to produce pornography. The evidence shows a global consensus against child sexual exploitation:

• 187 out of 195 countries have laws criminalizing child pornography ^[1], demonstrating near-universal legal prohibition
• International organizations like ICMEC and ECPAT actively combat child sexual exploitation worldwide ^[1]
• Even in Japan, which historically had gaps in its legislation, production and distribution of child pornography have been banned for 15 years ^[2]
• Recent legal developments show strengthening enforcement, with Japan moving to criminalize possession with penalties up to one year in prison ^[2]

The analyses reveal active prosecution of violators, including cases like the Ukrainian man who founded an international child sexual abuse website and was convicted ^[3].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks crucial context about the distinction between different types of content and enforcement variations:

• Japan maintains an exception for manga and anime industries, which can include sexually explicit depictions of minors as "artistic expression" ^[2]
• There are substantial variations in definitions and enforcement across the 187 countries with prohibitive laws ^[1]
• The EU still hosts significant amounts of child sexual abuse material despite legal prohibitions, indicating enforcement challenges ^[4]

Age verification for consumption (not production) is a separate issue, with states like Texas implementing strict verification requirements with fines up to $250,000 for exposing minors to pornographic content ^[5], and Florida enacting HB 3 requiring age verification for commercial distributors ^[6]. The Supreme Court upheld Texas's age verification law in a 6-3 decision ^[7].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question could potentially mislead by implying legal ambiguity where none exists. The framing might suggest there are legitimate jurisdictions allowing child exploitation, when the evidence shows:

• Universal legal prohibition across nearly all nations ^[1]
• Active international cooperation to combat such activities ^[1]
• Strengthening legal frameworks even in countries with historical gaps ^[2]

The question fails to acknowledge that child pornography production is universally recognized as child sexual abuse, not a matter of varying legal standards. This framing could inadvertently normalize discussions about child exploitation by treating it as a regulatory question rather than a fundamental human rights violation.