Senate Bill Would Create Child Porn Database, Require ISP Monitoring

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 9, 2007 - 9:25am.

Washington - A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday would create a national database of child pornography images -- both real and "cartoon" -- and require Internet service providers to monitor traffic and report such images to authorities.

CNET News.com obtained a draft of the Securing Adolescents from Exploitation-Online Act, which was introduced by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in a press conference on Capitol Hill with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and "America's Most Wanted" host John Walsh.

Under the bill, ISPs that find such images on their networks would have to make a detailed report and submit it to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which in turn would relate pertinent information to authorities.

Failure to comply with the proposed law would bring penalties of up to $300,000.

"With all of the horrifying instances of children being exploited by online predators, its stomach-churning that no law is on the books to require Internet Service Providers to report instances of child pornography on their services," Schumer said in a statement.

CNET reported that civil libertarians caution that the legislation could unfairly burden those subject to it, and that ISPs say existing law on reporting illegal images is sufficient.

 

Related Links:

http://news.com.com/2100-1028_3-6156976.html

http://mccain.senate.gov/press_office/view_article.cfm?ID=853

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