FL: Florida arrest fuels debate over dropping the term ‘child pornography’ from state law

Source: cbs12.com 10/30/25

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Florida lawmakers are considering whether to strike the term “child pornography” from state law — replacing it with “child sexual-abuse material,” or CSAM.

The push for change comes as a South Florida man faces more than two dozen felony charges for possessing and uploading explicit videos of children — files detectives say he called his “drug.”

The language debate

The arrest comes as Florida lawmakers debate how these crimes should be defined under state law.

Under current statute, Smith is charged with possession of child pornography — a term one Jacksonville lawmaker wants to change.

State Rep. Jessica Baker, R-Jacksonville, filed House Bill 245, known as the Child Pornography Terminology bill. It would replace the phrase child pornography with child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in all 56 sections of Florida law where the outdated term appears.

Baker, a former prosecutor, says the word pornography is misleading. In other…

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‘Baker, a former prosecutor, says the word pornography is misleading. In other reports, she’s mentioned how the term pornography implies a lawful form of adult entertainment, while any sexualized depiction or exploitation of a minor is a crime. It’s not pornography — it’s child sexual abuse material.’

The term “child pornography” sounds legal because adult entertainment shares the same umbrella under pornography? 🤔 What planet are those people living on? People are smart enough to know that cp is illegal, just like they know underage drinking and smoking are both illegal. Adults legally indulging in that behavior doesn’t cause confusion in the law. Even a 13 year old knows it’s illegal for them to buy cigarettes inside a conveniece store. That’s why they have adults do it for them

“The term ‘child pornography’ implies consent”

Actually that’s a specious argument as a lot of this stuff was consentual at the time even if it was self-objectification without knowledge of morality of consquence.

They’re trying to change the semantics to make the person in possession of this stuff appear more monsterous and culpable. Therefore worthy of more punishment, sentencing, etc.

“CSAM” implies that the indvidual in possession of this illicit contraband is an accessory to the alledged “ongoing abuse” even though they were not the acutal originator and creator of the material.

Again, I take issue with the term “material” or “content” as that could spun to imply the possessor is fully responsible for the abuse or the so-called “ongoing abuse..” of this stuff existing at all.

They’re crime scene photos mostly. They’re evidence of a crime taking place in the past.

They lawmakers are attempting to oversell the term “abuse” with fake outrage as always.

A lot of what they refer to “abuse” can be discounted as underage nudity and indecent exposure.

“He said the phrase also diminishes the trauma victims endure.”

That’s total nonsense and fosters perpetual victimhood.

Last edited 1 day ago by FactsShouldMatter

The real reason they want to change the name from CP to CSAM is so they can call it “a crime of violence” and use that as an enchancment for a longer sentence and equate it on the same level as assault, battery or murder.

Also, just to add what the guy being charged with it said: “it’s my drug.”

Yeah, how’s that war on drugs going?

Is possssion of drugs isn’t considered a “crime of violence” then neither is CP/CSAM.

Last edited 1 day ago by FactsShouldMatter