NCJ Number
103808
Date Published
1985
Length
100 pages
Annotation
Testimony by U.S. Senators and representatives of the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Communications Commission, law enforcement, citizen antipornography organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union, and a computer service analyzes the proposed Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act of 1985 (S. 1305).
Abstract
S. 1305 amends 18 U.S.C. 1462 to prohibit the interstate transmission of obscenity via computer and to sanction owners and operators of computer systems who knowingly engage in this activity. The bill would also amend 18 U.S.C. 2251 to create a 'facilition' offense for activities that promote child molestation or the production of child pornography. S. 1305 would amend 18 U.S.C. 2252 to create an offense for interstate communications, by computer or other means, of advertisements to buy, sell, or trade child pornography. The general thrust of the bill is supported by the various witnesses from Federal departments and agencies and law enforcement representatives from various jurisdictions. Suggestions for revision in the bill's structure and wording are offered. The representative of the computer service fears the bill will seriously hamper, if not terminate, computer services which cannot control possible abuses of their services. The American Civil Liberties Union representative opposes the effort to restrict private speech which does not in itself constitute child sexual abuse. Appended additional statements and views and a copy of S. 1305.