Governmental Principles and Statutes on Child Pornography

Book excerpt: The First Amendment provides that 'Congress shall make no law... Bridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...'. The First Amendment applies, with two exceptions, to pornography and indecency, with those terms being used to refer to any words or pictures of a sexual nature. The two exceptions are obscenity and child pornography; because these are not protected by the First Amendment, they may be, and have been, made illegal. Child pornography is material that visually depicts sexual conduct by children, and is unprotected by the First Amendment even when it is not legally obscene. Federal statutes, in addition to making it a crime to transport or receive child pornography in interstate or foreign commerce, prohibit, among other things, the use of a minor in producing pornography, and provide for criminal and civil forfeiture of real and personal property used in making child pornography, and of the profits of child pornography. In addition, child pornography crimes are included among the predicate offences that may give rise to a violation of the Federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act. This book explains the laws that are currently implemented in the fight against child pornography. Also, the book goes on to discuss the various issues and problems associated with child pornography and how the American government has reacted to them.