Phantasm66
Posts: 4,909 +8
http://salon.com/tech/wire/2002/03/18/child_porn/index.html
I think this is about time.
I only hope that this serves as an example to other states and nations, who I hope in turn emulate these laws.
This comes on the eve of a new study suggesting that the distribution of child pornography is rife on the internet, as are child abuse rings and groups.
Its ALL involved.... http, ftp, irc, newsgroups, icq! All of these technologies that I love dearly are being used by these foul little perverts to organise, distribute and meet.
It makes me ashamed that I am involved in working in an industry that is helping these people.
Whoever you are out there, if you are listening, I defy you! If I EVER come across you, you will regret the day you ever met me. I will always report you. I will provide the authorities with evidence if I have it. If I find you on irc, http or ftp I will report you. If I ever repair your machine, you will be reported. I hope you burn in hell like you deserve. :evil: You are everything about the internet that I despise!!!!
Starting next month, Internet service providers with customers in Pennsylvania will be legally responsible for blocking access to child pornography.
The law, with maximum penalties including prison time for repeat offenders, is believed to be the first of its kind.
But by putting the onus on the state attorney general's office to notify ISPs of what should be blocked, the law is expected to have limited success.
"This is a community that already knows it is on the edges of legality and as a result, they don't do things to bring attention to themselves," said Chris Hunter, a free-speech researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
Under the law, signed last month, prosecutors would, after obtaining a court order, give ISPs a list of Web sites and other items to block.
But child pornographers -- many of whom operate from overseas -- can quickly move to other sites. Child porn sites are generally temporary fixtures that disappear after a few hours anyway, said John Philip Jenkins, a Penn State professor who has researched Internet pornography issues.
"There's probably more out there than anybody knows, but this probably won't be an effective way of doing anything about it," Jenkins said.
The law carries penalties of $5,000 for the first offense and $20,000 for the second. After that, violators are subject to fines of $30,000 and up to seven years imprisonment.
The law has the blessing of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Larry Frankel, the chapter's executive director, said someone whose material is cut off could seek a court hearing.
But ISPs consider the law impractical from a technical standpoint.
"Once you use my service to get on the Internet, I have no way of controlling where you go and what you see," said Sue Ashdown, director of the American Internet Service Provider Association, an organization of small ISPs.
ISPs serve as conduits and do not actually control content -- the way the postal service delivers letters without knowing what's inside the envelopes.
The law does not require ISPs to actively monitor their service -- only to block specific sites or services when notified. But more technically astute users can often bypass blocks by using so-called proxy services.
And while some ISPs now market themselves as "family friendly," they often do so by restricting access to legitimate sites as well.
Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the state attorney general's office, said the agency plans to expand its child sexual exploitation unit and will monitor the Internet for sites that traffic in child pornography.
Two years ago, a congressional commission called for law enforcement agencies to develop a list of Web sites, newsgroups and other Internet destinations that contain child pornography.
The commission's own lists indicated that about 100,000 Web sites show simulated or real child pornography.
Three federal laws aimed at restricting pornography -- involving minors or otherwise -- have all been challenged.
One was overturned, another is pending before the Supreme Court and a third is scheduled for a trial in Philadelphia this month. None requires ISPs to do the blocking.
Officials at America Online and the National Conference of State Legislatures said they knew of no other state law like Pennsylvania's.
A South Dakota law merely requires employees of ISPs to report any child pornography to law-enforcement officials, while South Carolina has a law requiring the same of computer-repair technicians.
I think this is about time.
I only hope that this serves as an example to other states and nations, who I hope in turn emulate these laws.
This comes on the eve of a new study suggesting that the distribution of child pornography is rife on the internet, as are child abuse rings and groups.
Its ALL involved.... http, ftp, irc, newsgroups, icq! All of these technologies that I love dearly are being used by these foul little perverts to organise, distribute and meet.
It makes me ashamed that I am involved in working in an industry that is helping these people.
Whoever you are out there, if you are listening, I defy you! If I EVER come across you, you will regret the day you ever met me. I will always report you. I will provide the authorities with evidence if I have it. If I find you on irc, http or ftp I will report you. If I ever repair your machine, you will be reported. I hope you burn in hell like you deserve. :evil: You are everything about the internet that I despise!!!!