A Swedish company owned by the founders of controversial torrent tracker site The Pirate Bay is hosting a site that defends paedophilia.

PRQ, co-owned and operated by Fredrik Neij and Gottfried Svartholm Warg, has refused to take the web page down, citing the principle of freedom of speech.

The company says it doesn't share the ideas of the owners of the site, but defended the decision to host it, which claims: "When it comes to fear of paedophiles most things are set to one side."

The controversial site, which was previously hosted by a Danish company, also plans to make space available for individual paedophiles' personal websites.

Svartholm Warg told Stockholm morning daily Dagens Nyheter that he disagrees strongly with the content in question, but prefers an open debate. "They have a right to say this."

PRQ is the same company that hosts The Pirate Bay. When Stockholm police raided its offices last year almost every server was seized. Ten companies which were also hosted by PRQ immediately demanded compensation from the Chancellor of Justice. ®

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