A UN special envoy Monday, October 26, called on Japan to ban cartoon images featuring “extreme” sexualized images of children, after Tokyo last year fell into line with other G7 nations by criminalizing possession of child pornography. Full Article
Read MoreTag: Child Pornography
UK: Internet child sex abusers urged to get help in new campaign
A national video campaign has been launched to encourage people who view images of child sexual abuse online to seek help. The initiative is modelled on anti-drink drive and anti-knife crime campaigns. Full Article
Read MoreCanada: American Sentenced For Possession Of Child Pornography . . . Of Cartoon Characters
There is an interesting criminal case in Canada where American ____ ____ 25, of Murrells Inlet, S.C., is under arrest for possession of child pornography. However, the images were not of human beings but cartoon characters. Canada treats sexual cartoon images as pornography – a view widely rejected in the United States as inimical to free speech protections. Full Article
Read MoreNC: just prosecuted a teenage couple for making child porn — of themselves
Is it possible to sexually exploit one’s self? That question is one of many conundrums in the recent case of a teenage North Carolina couple charged with making and distributing child pornography. Their alleged crime: snapping and sending nude photos — of themselves. Full Article
Read MoreTeens Who Take Nude Photos Of Themselves Can Still Be Treated As Sex Offenders
WASHINGTON — A teenage boy in North Carolina might have to register as a sex offender if he’s convicted of keeping nude photos he took of himself on his phone, as well as a picture of his girlfriend. His case has drawn national scrutiny, but North Carolina’s controversial law isn’t unique. In many states, prosecutors can technically slam teenagers who snap naked selfies with child porn-related charges — regardless if the photos were shared or not. Full Article Related The insane logic of sexting prosecutions
Read MoreNC: Teen Boy Will Be Charged As Adult For Having Naked Pics of a Minor: Himself
A North Carolina 17-year-old caught in a sexting scandal faces charges of sexually exploiting a minor that could land him in jail for up to 10 years, since the law considers him an adult. But one of the minors he supposedly exploited is himself—which raises an obvious question: how can a teen be old enough to face adult felony charges, but not old enough to keep a nude picture of himself on his phone? Full Article
Read MoreCourts are giving reduced terms to many child-porn defendants
U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin of the Northern District of Ohio polled a jury in February about what jurors thought a suitable sentence would be for ____ ____, a child pornography defendant who was found guilty of having 19 videos and 93 still images on his computer. The jury recommended, on average, a 14-month sentence. Gwin then sentenced ____ to serve five years—longer than the jury recommendation yet significantly shorter than the government’s 20-year recommendation. Full Article
Read MoreGoogle, Facebook, Twitter join crackdown on child porn
Google, Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and Yahoo will be among the first technology companies to use the Internet Watch Foundation’s “hash list” to identify and remove child abuse images uploaded to their services, the British anti-abuse organization announced Monday. Not to be confused with a hashtag, a hash is a string of code that can serve as the digital fingerprint of an image. Sharing the list of fingerprints with Internet companies will allow victims’ images to be identified and removed more quickly, preventing them from being repeatedly shared. Full Article
Read MoreShould Therapists Have to Report Patients Who Viewed Child Pornography?
A new law meant to protect children could lead to fewer pedophiles getting treatment before acting on their sexual impulses. Full Article
Read MoreMI: Judge reinstates harsher child pornography charges against teen accused of Catholic school threats
GRAND RAPIDS, MI — A judge has decided that charges of producing child pornography thrown out by a lower court judge should be reinstated against a 17-year-old Catholic high school honor student. In a hearing Friday, May 29, Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark Trusock ruled in favor of the prosecution that teen Matthew Herrington potentially violated the law when he allegedly downloaded more than 133 images of child pornography. In a Grand Rapids District Court hearing from March, defense attorney Anthony Greene convinced Judge Jeanine LaVille that because his…
Read MoreSecondhand Pariah: A Plea for Empathy from the Girlfriend of a Sex Offender
One morning in January of 2014 my life changed forever. Out of nowhere, seven highly militarized FBI agents wielding guns and a search warrant raided the home that I shared with my partner. Barely awake, I couldn’t believe what was happening. Then we discovered his charges: possession and distribution of child pornography. He is not a monster; he is not even attracted to children. While he was on a torrent site looking for music to download, he came across pornographic images that he thought he’d check out, against his better…
Read MoreTeens Who Sext Are Child Pornographers? (Op-Ed)
Thanks to our mistaken belief that no one under 18 can have any legitimate sexual feelings—and hence any sex they’ve engaged in was coerced and bound to render unspeakable emotional harm—we have laws on the books like this one in Wisconsin, according to USA Today (boldface mine, all mine!): In 2012, state lawmakers passed into law a mandatory, minimum three-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography. Previously, judges had the discretion to order lesser penalties depending on the circumstances. That means a 17-year-old who receives explicit images from a younger friend…
Read MoreChild porn restitution bill passes Senate, sets minimum damages for victims
A bill named for two women whose childhood images were turned into heinous pornography was handily passed in the Senate on Wednesday. The Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act was approved by a 98-0 vote. The measure gives hope to victims that they will finally be able to win major compensation from any single person who illegally viewed, made or distributed their images. Victims of child pornography and other sexual exploitation “ought to have access to full restitution from any single perpetrator for their losses,” said Senate…
Read MoreIL: Former Illinois lawmaker registers as sex offender
ELGIN, Ill. (AP) – A former Illinois lawmaker who traded in child pornography has registered as a sex offender. Keith Farnham of Elgin is now listed on the Illinois State Police sex offender site as a “sexual predator” who possessed child pornography of a victim less than 13 years of age. The 67-year-old pleaded guilty to transporting child pornography in a federal courtroom in Chicago earlier this month. He faces up to 20 years in prison and remains under house arrest until his sentencing in March. Full Article
Read MoreVA: Sexting policy change debated
The Virginia State Crime Commission met Tuesday in Richmond to discuss an issue they have been tracking for some time — sexting by teenagers and the state’s child pornography laws. Last October, the Crime Commission heard that during the last five to 10 years, “sexting has attracted increased attention nationwide” and many of those participating are minors. Full Article
Read MoreVA: revisiting penalties for teen sexting
RICHMOND — Should teenagers who exchange sexually explicit messages and photos face the same punishment as adults charged with producing and distributing child pornography? The Virginia State Crime Commission is revisiting the teen sexting issue and may again consider legislation that would lessen penalties — primarily intended for pornographers — in consensual cases involving suspects who are minors. Full Article
Read MoreUK: Man Guilty of Owning Sexy Images of Cartoon Children (Opinion)
A man in Britain has been convicted for his fantasies. ____ ____, 39, was found guilty of downloading “prohibited images” of cartoon girls, some in school uniforms, doing dirty deeds. The fact that these manga drawings are available on legitimate sites did not sway the judge. Nor did the fact that—oh yeah—there were no actual humans in the pictures. Full Opinion Piece
Read MoreSexting amounts to child pornography in the eyes of the law
More than 100 Virginia teenagers are under investigation for sharing child pornography, even if they were simply sexting with their friends. Teens sexting, or sending nude photos to a boyfriend or girlfriend, could end up facing felony charges. Apps like Snapchat, Wickr, and Oovoo allow users to take a photo or video, send it, then the image self destructs on the other end in a matter of seconds. Full Article
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