Child pornography

The term child pornography (sometimes referred to as kiddie porn) generally refers to pornography featuring a child; however, the precise definition of "pornography" and "child" varies by region and country. It is widely prohibited by law, and faces the disapproval of most members of society.

Commercial production and distribution

During the 1960s and 1970s, Danish corporation Color Climax made a fortune producing and distributing child pornography. As child pornography became outlawed in various jurisdictions, Color Climax stopped producing such films. They continue to be one of the major producers of pornography in Europe, though they no longer produce child pornography and no longer mention that part of their history.

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By most accounts there appears to be little current commercially-produced child pornography. Most of what exists originates from private production as well as commercial production in the 1960s and 1970s. Investigations into commercial production and distribution of child pornography have turned up only isolated examples. The loss of anonymity by making payment, combined with the availability of free material, inhibits demand for commercial material, and the legal liability of receiving documented payment is a disincentive for supplying it. Media reports about child pornography rings almost exclusively refer to private, non-commercial exchange, but give the impression of a widespread criminal organization trading in child pornography.

Related Topics:
1960s - 1970s - Anonymity

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While up to the 1980s a limited quantity of child pornography was still sold under-the-counter, non-commercial distribution significantly increased with the advent of the Internet, which enabled distribution via file sharing, IRC, and Usenet. It is also exchanged in private circles using FTP servers. In Germany there is one case of investigation for possession of child pornography per year among 20,000 people, and the number remains constant. Of these, 2.7 percent are commercial or involve organized groups.

Related Topics:
File sharing - IRC - Usenet - FTP

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Organized networks of child pornography distribution do exist, however. Many such networks are operating in more than one country, making it harder for any single law enforcement agency to shut them down. An international sting operation aimed at a child pornography network called the Wonderland Club resulted in more than 100 arrests in 14 states.

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Some sources claim that much or most of the commercially offered material found online is actually bait deployed by law enforcement agents as "honeypots". The NAMBLA newsletter once warned its readers that most of the solicitations for child pornography are actually sting operations. Judith Levine cites two sources in her book Harmful to Minors on this. One is researcher Lawrence Stanley, who in a 1980s study "concluded that the pornographers were almost exclusively cops." And sources in the police agreed:

Related Topics:
Honeypot - NAMBLA - Sting operation - Judith Levine - Harmful to Minors - 1980s

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:In 1990 at a southern California police seminar, the LAPD's R. P. "Toby" Tyler proudly announced as much. The government had shellacked the competition, he said; now law enforcement agencies were the sole reproducers and distributors of child pornography. (p. 37) However, this does not seem to be the case for non-commercial exchange, which became much more prevalent with the advent of the Internet.

Related Topics:
1990 - LAPD

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There exist a number of softcore child nudity and erotica sites that are apparently tolerated. These include sites featuring child nudist photos and videos and sites featuring clothed children in sexually titillating poses. These sites generally claim that the material they offer does not meet the legal definition of child pornography and thus is not child pornography, even if it may push the boundaries. Critics view the material on these sites as immoral even if it's technically legal. (see Pret art).

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