Title: The Crackdown on Virtual Child Pornography
(Topic Area: Dark Side of the Net)

Pedophiles Beware

The Internet has proved itself to be a remarkable creation. It has allowed individuals to contact others across the world, access information with ease and allow individuals to conduct business without leaving their home. Even though the Internet has been a catalyst in improving our quality of life, it has also been used as a tool for pedophiles to prey upon young innocent children.

It has been estimated that there are more than 100,000 child pornography web sites on the Internet worldwide. Child pornography, also known as the "dark corner" of the Internet, has generated almost $200 million in revenue. The National Study for Missing and Exploited Children conducted a study and found that there have been over 86,204 reports of child pornography on the web. (1)

There has been an increase in the crackdown on child pornography. The state of Pennsylvania passed a law blocking child pornographic sites. The Pennsylvania General Attorney ordered WorldCom Inc. to deny five child pornographic web sites to its users. Fisher's Child Sexual Exploitation Unit and other ISPs have been able to disable at least 200 web sites containing child pornography. (2)

Other organizations around the world are joining in on the fight to crackdown on child pornography. The International Center for Missing & Exploited Children is campaigning to strike down on child pornography worldwide. The ICMEC is a private, non-governmental organization that works alongside law enforcement to crackdown on child pornography. Their campaign is called "The Dublin Plan." A few of the organization's intention are to increase awareness, create an international child pornography monitoring system and evaluate law enforcement practices. The ICMEC has worked with other organizations such as Interpol, INHOPE, Child Focus and the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law. (3)

Title of Web Page: Regulation of Child Pornography on the Internet
Address of Web Site: http://www.cyber-rights.org/reports/child.htm
Brief Description: News item based on United Kingdom regulations of Child Pornography on the Internet. Gives child pornography regulations for both the UK and the U.S.
Source of Web Site: Cyber-Rights & Cyber Liberties

Title of Web Page: Exploited Child Union
Address of Web Page: http://www.missingkids.com/html/ncmec_default_ec_chldporn_laws.html
Brief Description: News based on the 1977 Sexual Exploitation of Children Act. Gives different laws pertaining to child pornography
Source of Web Site: Missing Kids