Part III (continued)

["L. Bird" <pkeets@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Cutting off the supply of real child porn is difficult because it seems to 
be coming from countries that have a big sex industry already and not much 
consideration for the welfare of children.  The Internet has made marketing 
easy--all they have to do is put it up and they can contact customers all 
around the world.  Once the pictures and videos are downloaded from these 
sites, then collectors trade it the same way music is traded.

I think Pete has found the possible methods of control already.  I don't 
like invasion of privacy solutions like the music piracy ruling of last 
week, but there's a model in US legislation from last October that requires 
credit card companies to refuse the charges of Internet Casinos and for ISPs 
to block these sites.  If Internet casino gambling is important enough for 
such a law, then child porn should be, too.

Also, Pete's right that "vigilante" enforcement of laws will cut down on 
illegal trading.  I've checked out several anti-child porn sites, and all of 
them feature links and phone numbers to report illegal porn.  But, in order 
for this to work well, we need to have a change in attitudes about child 
porn.  We've all been educated not to look, and told that it's a matter for 
law enforcement to deal with.  We know it's very illegal, and that we can 
get in trouble for only looking, so when we do happen upon it, we don't tell 
anybody.  The public needs assurance that they won't come under suspicion 
for reporting illegal sites and collector groups, and encouragement to do 
it.

I think that's pretty much all we can do without stopping the trade at it's 
source.  This is something that will have to be handled on an international 
level.  The US has periodic fits of complaining about human rights in other 
countries and making this the basis of "preferred nation" trade agreements.  
Maybe it's time to look at the treatment of children in Russia, Asia and 
South America that allows them to be used for the sex trade, and to make 
this one of the items on the agenda.

Influencing governments to do something about this may be difficult right 
now--all I see on the news is about terrorism, and Iraqi inspections and 
trouble in the Middle East and Bush's war plans.  It will be hard to get 
their attention, but if the casino bill made it through, then maybe this 
would, too.  If anyone feels the urge, please write your representative and 
ask for a similar bill addressing child porn, and some program to reduce 
abuse of children on an international level.


keets



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