|
|
Obscenity on the Internet
The strengths of the Internet as a medium of communication have unfortunately been exploited for the distribution of pornography. Typically, citizens encounter pornography on the Internet through either websites, or e-mail.
Commercial websites selling obscene materials are increasing both in number and in the degradative quality of their images. Typically, these websites offer an online mechanism for ordering physical products (such as magazines, videotapes, or DVDs), provide online content viewable for a fee, or both. Although many commercial websites are accessed intentionally, others employ deceptive tactics to lure visitors, including the use of misleading domain names (the website's address typed into the browser's window) and "metatags". The PROTECT Act, passed on April 30, 2003, created 18 USC § 2252B, which for the first time makes it a crime to employ a domain name with the intent of misleading the public to visit websites offering either obscene material or material harmful to minors. Metatags are codes stored in the web page but invisible to the user. These terms cause the search engines, which periodically index websites, to falsely identify the pornographic website as responsive to the user's innocuous search request.
The mass mailing of advertisements, such as those received by electronic mail, is known as "spamming". These advertisements frequently do not contain any sexually explicit images, only text information about the site to which they link. You may notify your Internet Service Provider (ISP) about these advertisements. When notified in a timely manner, the ISPs are sometimes able to take action through their own policies and procedures against a subscriber who misuses their system. If you actually receive images that appear to be children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, or obscenity sent to a minor, you may report such information to the Cybertipline operated by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678 or visiting the website http://www.cybertipline.org. Reports received by the Tipline are forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agencies for follow-up.
Some states have begun to address the issue of spamming by passing laws against it. You may wish to express your concerns about this issue by contacting your state legislators that represent your community. To locate your state legislature site, click onto the National Conference of State Legislatures: Internet Sites of the State Legislatures.
U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division ° Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS)
1400 New York Avenue, 6th Floor ° Washington, D.C. 20530
Legal Policies | Privacy Policy | Criminal Division Home Page | DOJ Home Page
|
