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ISPs to Create Database to Combat Child Porn
BlueCup writes to tell us that several media companies are banding together to create a database of child pornography images to help law enforcement officials combat distribution of questionable material. In addition to the database several tools and new technologies are also planned but most notable is what some perceive as a willingness to cooperate which critics say has been lacking in the past. From the article: "Each company will set its own procedures on how it uses the database, but executives say the partnership will let companies exchange their best ideas — ultimately developing tools for preventing child-porn distribution instead of simply catching violations."
It is generally helpful to RTFA before commenting. For example, I saw the following things:
"create a unique mathematical signature for each one based on a common formula"
"If child porn is detected, AOL would refer the case to the missing-children's center for further investigation, as service providers are required to do under federal law."
Kinda covers most of your post, no?
I could see it happening quite easily - send a photo of your kids in the bath to their grandma, AOL system tags it, police come knocking at your door and take your computer and all your archives away. .....
Why imagine? People already have been condenmed for taking pictures of their kids at bathtime.
Bathtime has become a taboo activity, best undergone alone, one child at a time, and if a supervisor must be present, only the child's mother is allowed. Possibly an aunt, but that's pushing it. No fathers allowed. Eyes only. IR goggles preferred.
God Bless The News Of The World.
May the Maths Be with you!
This is why the child pornography filters employed by most Danish ISPs now will only redirect the user to an "Oops, you do know that this stuff is illegal, right?" page.
Then again, our filters are made mostly to protect the innocent from being subjected to CP by accident (and yes, it'll stop a few from ever getting into the stuff), not so much prevent someone who really wants it from getting it - they'll always find a way...
Oh, but arresting people for thought-crimes and future-crimes is so much more fun. Easier too!
Seriously though, what's scary to me is how little discretion the cops/prosecutors use when arresting people for CP-related crimes. They arrest underage teens for sending out nude pictures of themselves!
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlif
People always assume that everyone arrested for CP is a 50-year-old guy in a trenchcoat looking at pictures of babies being raped. Not so. There are so many cops working on these cases that they bust everyone they can find.