Bag's Rants

Child Porn. Is this the new middle class hobby?

Reading this article about BT stopping access to Child porn web sites and making a warning on the issue. I read two items on there worthy of comment.

When China blocks access to web sites, with or without Googles help, we are told that the beauty of the internet is such that they cannot stop this information and there are ways to get this information into the hands of ordinary, non technical, web users in China. On the other hand the BT blocking technology is, according to John Carr, an internet adviser to the children's charity NCH, "BT has proven that the technology works so there really isn't any excuse for any internet service provider not doing it" and "unless the industry can show pretty quickly that they're at or close to 100% coverage in Britain, I'm afraid we will be going to talk to our MPs... demanding legislation". Now let me see. Bog standard web users in China can bypass their blocking technology but sophisticated perverts where the number of ISPs is larger and the software for hiding yourself from oppressive Government intrusion is more easily accessible can't. Mmmm. I see another big spend on technology that will only stop the simple guys but leave the real dangerous predators alone. All costs of course added to our bills with no real benefit but another feel good factor for these guys. This guy will go far in central Government.

I also thought about this a lot since this Operation Ore. Where lots of people were getting nicked for being stupid enough to put their credit cards into a child porn web site. When you looked at the type of people we were seeing. It was teachers, police officers, doctors, managers, *cough*
musicians doing research. People that we would call middle to upper class and technical astute people. Although clearly misunderstanding that no matter what the technology it's the customer interface, the handover of good or payment, that does them in most times.

Now, if you look at the number BT are stopping and consider that a lot of pervy technical people don't go via BT because the blocking software is well advertised then theoretically the number of accesses must be higher. People that are less technically astute tend to go with brand names such as BT and AOL as their ISPs. Consider that some people caught by BTs software are clicking on links or being directed from 'normal' porn sites by a misleading link. Others are accessing it unaware that their every move is being watched. That is probably not the case for astute users.

So, it looks to me like the child porn market is still up and flourishing well. Well educated and well paid perverts seem to be getting their jollies on this stuff. Personally I don't really feel a need for this sort of stuff but now I'm beginning to wonder if I'm missing out on something. What can be so special that people will risk jail and a life sentence on the sex register for it? Is this the drug for the 2000's?

Now, just to draw the line so you know where I stand. I don't agree with it. The reason is that if these pictures were made acceptable then more would be made and that can only be at the expense of children.

I think that instead of blocking sites we should trace them and seize their equipment and put the owners behind bars. If we can't find the owners then the ISP who connected them needs to be put out of business. Sack all the directors, close the company, sell it off and replace them with some new investors. That would cause a rapid policy change with ISPs and at no real cost. Validate who you allow on line so they can be traced or pay the penalty. Now that won't stop the hard core who hide files on general servers and share their stuff via P2P but it'll stop it becoming more mainsteam than it is now. We could even stop some P2P traffic and by making it difficult for all but the most savvy it will drive it underground. The market reduces so the incentive to abuse kids goes down. Then continue with what goes on now to chase and persecute these people without making everybody else suffer when I can't get my bog standard pervy porn.

posted by Bag @ 10:19 am