Internet Pornography Project
Faced with an increasing number of complaints and investigations involving the solicitation of minors for sex via computer, interstate travel with intent to engage in sex with a minor, unlawful possession/trafficking of child pornography, and use of minors to create child pornography, the United States Attorney's Office determined to develop a strategy for more effectively investigating and prosecuting these crimes and taking steps to protect minors from being victimized.
Development of the strategy began by holding an organizational meeting with representatives of the FBI, the Postal Inspection Service, and the U.S. Customs Service to insure that all agencies with a stake in attacking the problem of Internet pornography were committed to the development of a joint strategy and willing to commit resources to its implementation. Thereafter, personnel in the United States Attorney's Office identified Internet Service Providers handling Internet access in the Western District of Tennessee and invited providers to a meeting to discuss the problem of child pornography on the Internet and related crimes involving use of the Internet, inform the ISPs of the applicable federal statutes, and facilitate a discussion with ISPs and law enforcement on the potential ways ISPs might assist in deterring these crimes and appropriately assisting law enforcement with investigations of specific cases.
In addition to making better use of investigative and other resources to more effectively prosecute child pornography and other crimes related to use of the Internet, the United States Attorney's Office has sought to increase public awareness of the problems by doing television and print media interviews on the subject, seeking opportunities for public speaking engagements on the subject, issuing press releases announcing successful prosecutions, and developing and distributing a pamphlet targeted at children on the dangers associated with Internet.
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A brochure about the dangers of the Internet