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Utah Bill Would Require IT Workers To Report Child Porn (ksl.com)

Mr.Intel writes: A Utah lawmaker wants computer technicians to face jail time if they don't immediately report child pornography they discover on someone's computer. The proposal would require computer technicians to report child pornography to law enforcement or a federal cyber tip line if they encounter the material, but they would not be required to go searching for it. If they find it and don't report it, they could be given up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. It would mirror laws already on the books in at least 12 other states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

391 comments

  1. Where is deniability? by damn_registrars · · Score: 1

    Does this mean that if you are fixing someone's computer and they have an encrypted volume full of this that you never had any reason to look at, you are still liable later? What if someone brings you their PC and they just want an upgrade (say second HDD or new video card), are you liable for what they have in their personal directories at that point?

    --
    Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
    1. Re:Where is deniability? by markdavis · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The summary does say the professional is required to report it IF THEY ENCOUNTER IT, but are not required to search for it. In other words, if in the process of doing work on a computer he/she discovers it (see is and knows what it is) and doesn't report it... that is a crime.

      It is a law that would be nearly impossible to enforce.

    2. Re:Where is deniability? by TWX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I was under the impression that it was wrong to dig through a customer's files without reason, and possibly in-itself illegal to do so, even if it is a widespread practice.

      To me, this strikes of a feel-good, circle-jerk law. Computer service technicians are already going to make such a report if they find child pornography to be abhorrent, and there isn't a good mechanism for identifying who opened or looked at a file long after service was performed or even who had custody of the computer at that time. Unless a computer is seized and investigators manage to connect-the-dots right after it's serviced I don't see this law ever being applied. Instead by passing this law that won't ever do anything it makes the legislature feel warm-and-fuzzy and gives them the ability to tell their constituents that they did something, when in reality they did effectively nothing.

      The bigger worry is that this may give muddy the ability to prosecute the owner/user of the computer. If the computer was serviced and if time/date stamps indicate that the files were accessed while in the care of that outside business, the defendant that owns the computer might be able to claim that he wasn't the one that put the files there, but that the person(s) that serviced it did, as the timestamps match that time when the computer was not in the owner's control. If the case against the defendant is strongly reliant on these files that case might be irreparably damaged. If the prosecution brings up that timestamps can be changed, then the defendant could use that to further make a point that the computer professional (ie, the service tech) would be in a better position to manipulate timestamps than the ignorant user (ie, the defendant) such that the history of the files themselves is completely unverifiable.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    3. Re:Where is deniability? by DragonTHC · · Score: 4, Insightful

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      --
      They're using their grammar skills there.
    4. Re:Where is deniability? by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      More significantly, this will probably have the opposite of the intended effect. Rather than risk losing good employees who accidentally discover something and fail to report it, most companies will strengthen their policies to ensure that their employees do not discover anything.

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    5. Re:Where is deniability? by newcastlejon · · Score: 4, Informative

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Blackmail for one.

      --
      If God forks the Universe every time you roll a die, he'd better have a damned good memory.
    6. Re:Where is deniability? by mysidia · · Score: 1

      What if someone brings you their PC and they just want an upgrade (say second HDD or new video card)

      Then you don't go looking at their pictures/documents. D2D copy, And give them the old hard drive with the new one.

      No problems, unless their wallpaper is CP, or something.

    7. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      In some jurisdictions, you can go to jail for reporting it. Possession and viewing are offences.

      Many child pornography prevention organizations have got into trouble for looking for child pornography. No good deed goes unpunished.

    8. Re:Where is deniability? by mysidia · · Score: 1

      It is a law that would be nearly impossible to enforce.

      Unless the worker goes digging around in their files and grabs a coworker, and tells them "Hey, look what I found!"

      Or views a thumbnail in file explorer..... Or sends an email..... or makes a copy of it....

      Or does any of a number of other thousands of possible actions which will create evidence they encountered it.

      Also, if they double click the picture, Windows recent documents' functionality will conveniently record forensic information indicating the file was accessed, along with timestamp.

      I think the deal is it's a law they can enforce against the technicians later, after the owner gets caught.

      Once the computer is analyzed, they may be able to figure out that the technician opened or rendered a preview of the file for some reason or another.

      Then, once they establish the technician viewed it, they just have to show that a reason person would have suspicion about the image, Or maybe not at all..... the technician will likely be forced into a plea bargain under the idea they are likely to be found guilty, just for having opened the My Documents file in Explorer which showed a Thumbnail preview somewhere in the list.

    9. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because all your personal computers may be seized because they now know for a fact that at one point you had possession of child porn and could have copied it.

    10. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Possession of child pornography is a crime with severe penalties. The justice system does not care about how you acquired it. If a client hands you a laptop to repair that contains child porn, at the moment of transfer you become a criminal without even knowing it. Why roll the dice on the human decency of the local prosecutor by letting law enforcement know you are in violation?

    11. Re:Where is deniability? by mysidia · · Score: 2

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      • Because they didn't want to lose a customer or make other customers afraid of them (When news got out, they might lose a ton of business and go bankrupt --- from other people being too afraid to bring their PC in for service).
      • Because they didn't think about it really, or decide what they saw was a big deal, or something important.
      • Because they would be afraid of being tied up in the investigation themselves. You report a crime, then you yourself can be detained and/or brought in and confined/imprisoned for questioning, even if you yourself are not suspect of any wrongdoing: it can be very stressful, bothersome, and inconvenient to spend days in police custody answering questions, just b/c someone brought a computer in, and you found something suspicious and reported it.
      • Because at the time, they were busy and did not recognize what it was, Or,
      • They didn't know it was illegal.... the difference between CP and art can be a fine line, and the technician did not necessarily know the age of people in the picture (Even if they look old, their legal age might be below the limit)
    12. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      You're an idiot.

    13. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Maybe for the same reason why they wouldn't want to report evidence of witchcraft if they encountered that?

      Personally, I'd only report it if the owner was a right-wing politician, a judge in bed with shady building contractors, or a forensic expert bragging on facebook about his fondness for the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit.

    14. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is absolutely not true.

    15. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      I was under the impression that it was wrong to dig through a customer's files without reason, and possibly in-itself illegal to do so, even if it is a widespread practice.

      ... and in this particular case, it would not only be against privacy protection laws but also against other parts of child pornography laws.

      Indeed, while digging through customer's files for this reason would be knowingly searching for child pornography which is itself illegal...

      So, do that to a customer who knows the judge better than you, and it would be you, the PC repair technician, that would be doing jailtime for child pornography, and "they" sure as hell would make sure that your jailmates would know about your fondness for child pornography.

    16. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you're with the Gestapo?

    17. Re:Where is deniability? by LainTouko · · Score: 2

      The grossly disproportionate punishments for possession?

    18. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      In addition to other comments, I will add this unpopular but absolutely true fact:

      What constitutes child porn is subjective. The laws that define it require an opinion when the facts are tried. Some people think that a picture of a naked kid in a tub is child porn, while others think it is a cute picture of the sort that normal parents commonly take. The law in many states require that someone determine obscenity based on some vague notion of "the standards of the community," which are impossible to determine objectively and are impossible for any small group of people to know anyway (since none of them are personally acquainted with every member of "the community," and all their opinions will still differ).

      So, rather than ruin someone's life by making an accusation based on pictures that may very well not qualify as porn (since the accusation implies guilt in the minds of most, there is no clearing one's name once the accusation is made), it is easier (and safer) to just ignore it (when it is in that gray area).

      Requiring people to make that judgment on pain of jail time will just increase the number of people prosecuted who are actually innocent.

      And also, people might not know that their hard drive is being used as a proxy for porn archiving and distribution by criminals (or they may be victimized by Anonymous members putting the porn there just to incriminate them), but the law holds them guilty anyway. In my opinion, the law is wrong to do that, and I would feel like I was complicit in injustice if I accused someone of harboring porn that they didn't even know about. But this law makes me a criminal for not perpetuating that injustice.

    19. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Said the anonymous coward.

    20. Re:Where is deniability? by SeaFox · · Score: 1

      I was under the impression that it was wrong to dig through a customer's files without reason, and possibly in-itself illegal to do so, even if it is a widespread practice.

      Maybe that's the whole point. Get other people to do the illegal searches the police can't do themselves.
      Everyone stay vigilant for suspicious activity! Report your neighbor and be wary of everyone. That's how we breed our culture of fear and keep you under our thumb.

    21. Re:Where is deniability? by BitterOak · · Score: 1

      It is a law that would be nearly impossible to enforce.

      That's the problem. There would be only one way to enforce this type of law and that would be through sting operations. An undercover officer would bring a computer in to be repaired with illicit images somewhere obvious, like the desktop background screen. If no report is filed, the worker is arrested.

      --
      If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
    22. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This so fscking stupid. If such a law were to be enforced, a sensible computer technician would make sure they never even touched the background image on the desktop. Remove a person's discretion and they'll flee responsibility.

    23. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're an idiot.

      No he's not. A law enforcement system that relies on prosecutorial discretion to keep an IT worker from accidentally being a felon is. Without research I'm not willing to say the mens rea for possession of child pornography isn't deliberate *possession* of the child pornography, rather than deliberate possession *of the child pornography*.

      It's really easy to be a felon today. Just quote the lyrics to a song on debian-user.

    24. Re:Where is deniability? by Kidbro · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Maybe they don't like the concept of thoughtcrime.

    25. Re:Where is deniability? by DaMattster · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      I think everyone would WANT to report it. However, there is legitimate fear that law enforcement might try to pin it on the one reporting it. I can understand hesitation, especially in the light of corrupt law enforcement and prosecution.

    26. Re:Where is deniability? by NormalVisual · · Score: 2

      and the technician did not necessarily know the age of people in the picture (Even if they look old, their legal age might be below the limit)

      Or vice versa.

      --
      Please stand clear of the doors, por favor mantenganse alejado de las puertas
    27. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I could see this. "You have child porn on your computer!"

      Owner: "No... you just loaded that...."

      lol.

    28. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What if we find some on Google servers while searching for nudist colony who do we reprt that too?

    29. Re:Where is deniability? by Mishotaki · · Score: 1

      for the same reason you don't report the guy who has a suicide vest... he might retaliate before he's cuffed or his friends know who you are...

    30. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It takes time and it is a bother, and at worst you would called in as a witness in a trial. The hassle is not worth reporting something that has nothing to do with you.

    31. Re:Where is deniability? by CrankyFool · · Score: 0

      Well, for one thing, maybe because it wasn't harming anyone and it's none of my business?

      There's a bunch of child pornography the making of which does not involve the harming of actual children (written erotica, drawings, animation).

    32. Re:Where is deniability? by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

      I was under the impression that it was wrong to dig through a customer's files without reason

      Of course it is, a decent person will pay due respect to their customers privacy, but that same decent person won't go so far as to ignore evidence of a serious crime in the name of privacy. If everyone was a "decent person" there wouldn't be any need for laws, right?

      --
      And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    33. Re: Where is deniability? by slasher999 · · Score: 1

      It really doesn't matter to the argument why someone wouldn't want to report it. The issue is the state making it a crime to not report it. Of course the majority of sane people would be very likely to report something of this sort. However now the state has taken away your freedom of choice to do so (or not) and will subject you to severe punishment for not reporting such content.

      However as someone has already pointed out, this is virtually unenforceable anyhow. That doesn't excuse the state for passing a bs law though.

    34. Re:Where is deniability? by Rinikusu · · Score: 1

      That's kinda my question.

      "OMG I FoUND CHILD PORN"

      ????

      --
      If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    35. Re:Where is deniability? by Rinikusu · · Score: 1

      fucking /. removed the "inserts usb drive.. unzips pants" part of the snark.

      --
      If you were me, you'd be good lookin'. - six string samurai
    36. Re:Where is deniability? by arglebargle_xiv · · Score: 1

      Looks like they're trying to update the 1990s travesty in which families were broken up by social services for taking baby photos to the drugstore for printing and some over-zealous checkout operator reported them for child porn. Now it's baby photos on laptops that will land you in jail.

      Having someone say "This looks pretty bad, perhaps I should report it" is one thing, but saying "If you don't report anything that someone else might at some point consider bad, goto jail" is going to lead to the same mess that the prosecuted-for-taking-baby-photos mania created.

    37. Re:Where is deniability? by dcollins117 · · Score: 2

      You report a crime, then you yourself can be detained and/or brought in and confined/imprisoned for questioning, even if you yourself are not suspect of any wrongdoing: it can be very stressful, bothersome, and inconvenient to spend days in police custody answering questions

      That doesn't sound right. I reported a felony exactly two weeks ago and an officer just handed me a witness statement form. Filled it out, went down to the station to hand it in. Took about 20 minutes. I might have to testify if it goes to trial someday, but I think it's more likely they'll just plea.

      As to the main topic, I thought it was already the law that IT workers were to report CP, much the same as doctors are required to report certain things. I don't fix PCs, though, so I don't really know.

    38. Re:Where is deniability? by markdavis · · Score: 2

      >"That's the problem. There would be only one way to enforce this type of law and that would be through sting operations. An undercover officer would bring a computer in to be repaired with illicit images somewhere obvious, like the desktop background screen. If no report is filed, the worker is arrested."

      But just because a tech worked on the computer doesn't mean he/she actually was aware of any porn on there- unless the sting made it so it is nearly impossible to miss (like making it a background image or something stupid). I know when I work on others' computers, I very intentionally try to NOT look at anything not absolutely necessary to do what I am trying to do. Not just from a liability aspect, but it is the professional way to handle the situation.

      It is a very dangerous law which might do far more harm than ever do any good.

    39. Re:Where is deniability? by JoelKatz · · Score: 2

      If I were ever in that situation, there are three main reasons I might not want to report it:

      1) I don't trust the police and prosecutors to do a competent job.

      2) I fear that police and prosecutors may pressure me to be dishonest and threaten me if I'm honest.

      3) I have philosophical objections to the idea that there can be information that it is illegal to merely possess.

    40. Re:Where is deniability? by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Would you bet your freedom on it? In this day and age? For that crime?

      There is no sense and logic in laws concerning sex, drugs and copyright. They are not based in logic but in the three most basic human emotions: Anger, fear and greed.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    41. Re:Where is deniability? by mysidia · · Score: 4, Informative

      That doesn't sound right. I reported a felony exactly two weeks ago and an officer just handed me a witness statement form. Filled it out, went down to the station to hand it in. Took about 20 minutes.

      I think that is probably representative of what normally happens, BUT of course people who have done nothing wrong can still be afraid of law enforcement, and law enforcement DO have the authority to lock up witnesses, there are some legitimate uses for detaining, AND law enforcement departments sometimes abuse that power.

      I might have to testify if it goes to trial someday, but I think it's more likely they'll just plea.

      This is the other thing.... if you're a small business owner, for example, and you start needing to take totalling days or weeks off to appear for depositions, and investigator interviews, and as a witness in court; this can cost you a heck of a lot of money, money which you won't be reimbursed for by the defendant or anyone else.

      Or as an employee it can cost you paid or unpaid leave time ---- which can mean suddenly you cannot pay your rent, or for transportation or other basic necessities.

      This is also one of the reasons people don't want to take on jury duty or go to court to fight a small lawsuit or traffic ticket, and will essentially accept default guilt..... pay a $50 ticket, versus take a couple days off work, and possibly put your job at risk while losing much much more in wages.

    42. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or you simply don't believe in the witch hunt and don't care about someone having that content if it's their private content.

    43. Re:Where is deniability? by Gavagai80 · · Score: 1

      Rather than risk losing good employees who accidentally discover something and fail to report it, most companies will strengthen their policies to ensure that their employees do not discover anything.

      Which is actually a very good result protecting innocent people from all manner of privacy invasions as well, so yay for the law I guess.

      --
      This space intentionally left blank
    44. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Would you bet your freedom on not reporting it? In this day and age? For that crime?

      This is a good law.

    45. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I reported a felony exactly two weeks ago and an officer just handed me a witness statement form. Filled it out, went down to the station to hand it in. Took about 20 minutes. I might have to testify if it goes to trial someday, but I think it's more likely they'll just plea.

      I would never cooperate voluntarily with the police as you did because as an individual citizen I have no legitimate interest in helping them to solve crimes. At best I expose myself to indictment and prosecution merely by becoming involved and for no possible benefit to myself. Speaking with the police about a criminal matter is dangerous, whether you're a suspect or not, and no attorney would advise their client to do so voluntarily unless they were already unavoidably involved in the whole affair and making deals was the only way to get out. If I cannot remain unknown to the police then my response to them will be "5th amendment, speak with my attorney".

      Why You Should Never Talk to the Police

    46. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah right. If someone goes around with pictures of child porn taped to their car, everyone who sees the car drive by is a criminal. If you think that is how it works you are a dumbass.

    47. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bullshit. You can't be detained for reporting a crime. They can ask you to stay and give statements but you are free to go whenever you want. Don't be such a sheep. Know your rights.

    48. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While you think it is wrong, you might find that the punishment for mere viewing does not fit the crime. Basically you are ending that persons life as they know it. I had a friend of a friend who was harmless (wheelchair bound, learning disabled) who downloaded some. It was a huge waste of time and money both for the person and the state.

    49. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And that is why there is a prohibition against "cruel and unusual" punishments in the US. Civilized nations do not need it.

    50. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      It absolutely is true. Strict liability laws read exactly like that, which is why they should not exist. Criminal intent or at least the intent to do the thing you're accused of should always have to be proven.

      Trouble is all that due process stuff is inconvenient for our law enforcement heroes and also occasionally result in the accused not being convicted. In this sick and twisted society where justice isn't even a consideration anymore we can't have THAT and so you get these guilty until proven guilty laws. (See pretty much every dui law passed in the last two decades as well)

      Lack of being prosecuted is literally your only defense because our courts are too cowardly to throw strict liability on the garbage heap where it belongs.

      No smart tech person wants to be anywhere near this stuff, but that's not enough. What if you see something that you honestly can't tell? You can ruin someone's life with an unintentionally false accusation. What if you think something is not illegal and some prosecutor later decided it is? That's no trivial issue in a world where people have been convicted for drawings and other stuff where no actual human is the subject of the work in question. Your life can be ruined.

      Also, there is no legal status of IT professionals. We don't have state licenses, mandatory recurring training, or anything else where we can be expected to be informed of this stuff unlike some other professions with this requirement. I can't name the other states with this law from memory. Can you? Leading to my other favorite thing that needs to go on the garbage heap: this idiocy about ignorance of the law being no excuse.

      This is just another law to make headlines and ruin lives in the process--lives of people who mean nobody any harm and who don't intend to commit any crime. All so some politician can look tough on something.

      Obligatory 'I'm not trying to minimize the seriousness of the underlying problem' here. Abuse, real abuse, is a serious problem and none of us here want to contribute to it. We also don't want to go to jail for doing nothing either.

    51. Re: Where is deniability? by ememisya · · Score: 1

      Great, yea give the guy who just wanted his stapler the power to fuck with anyone. Lets see here, I have the logs, I have the access, I don't like you. Uploading child porn. Where would you find child porn? Fuck it, pay an artist 5 bucks, or draw it yourself. Stick figures should do it, just label it, "The pictured stick figures are minors." Dial the hotline. Too easy to destroy someone this way, but much like terrorism it's hard to even talk about it in a public setting reasonably. Politicians? Forget it, they can't stop jailing people who smoke pot to not look soft on crime. Moral of the story, don't fuck with Sys Admins.

    52. Re:Where is deniability? by cold+fjord · · Score: 1, Troll

      Adults raping children isn't "thought crime." For all you know they could be pictures of people he/she molested, For all you know he/she bought the pictures thus participating in the market for artifacts of raped children, fueling more rape and abuse.

      It's probably best to let the police sort it out.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    53. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's ok. Few people want to see it, and it was pointless.

    54. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Would you bet your freedom on not reporting it?

      Prove I encountered it.

      Yeah, that's what I thought.

    55. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because then I would be in the middle of a child-porn case where the most obvious defense is for the client to turn around and publicly accuse *me* (the service provider, in theory) of planting the child porn there?

    56. Re:Where is deniability? by cold+fjord · · Score: 1

      Sounds like a twofer for the prosecution when the almost inevitable happens. As a bonus, extortion carries serious penalties.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    57. Re:Where is deniability? by cold+fjord · · Score: 0

      It's fascinating that on Slashdot the suggestion that sex crimes against children should be investigated is considered a "troll". I've seen both admitted and apparent pedophiles post here, I assume they moderate as well.

      I wonder if the next big international police child porn sting will catch any of them? One can only hope.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    58. Re:Where is deniability? by cold+fjord · · Score: 0

      Normal people don't like kids getting raped.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    59. Re:Where is deniability? by PRMan · · Score: 2

      Remember, potential jurors: no mens rea (guilty mind) no conviction, no matter what the law says. Just vote Not Guilty.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    60. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fear for one's job.

    61. Re:Where is deniability? by PRMan · · Score: 1

      Also:

      Kids in a bath? Child porn?

      Family vacation at nudist colony?

      An underage girl sent a topless picture to her boyfriend on her phone.

      If you are testing your judgement skills, 1 and 2 are legal and 3 is illegal in most jurisdictions (but it varies widely), because 3 is intended to arouse. But 2 and 3 are VERY difficult to tell apart.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    62. Re:Where is deniability? by PRMan · · Score: 1

      Or drawings, apparently.

      Look, nobody (except some seriously sick perverts) wants kids to be raped. But the problem is that there are way too many things that don't involve rape or even any harm to a child which have ruined people's lives.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    63. Re:Where is deniability? by Taelron · · Score: 1

      I worked a case once where like the poster above stated, the "access time" on the files invalidated all of the evidence.

      Someone reported a computer on an open network had a file share with illegal images. We tracked it down by its mac address through the switch port.

      Federal agents had us accompany them to seize the computer and verify it was the same MAC address we had captured through the switch for that machine. That was enough evidence for them to seize the laptop.

      During the investigation one of the officers failed to lock the drive and image it before accessing the files to look for illegal material.

      I had to go testify in the case and waste a week sitting in the court room only to have the whole case thrown out on the grounds of potential tampering of data (file access times were for periods of time the device was in the Marshalls possession). The guy got off. I heard he was busted again several years later.

      So as the poster stated, soon as you view that data and the access time stamp changes, YOU could be liable for that content as well. Very slippery slope.

    64. Re:Where is deniability? by mysidia · · Score: 1

      If you are testing your judgement skills, 1 and 2 are legal and 3 is illegal in most jurisdictions

      Well, If I am working in that jurisdiction, and I am the technician --- then the only safe thing for me to do is to report ANY of those, when I see it.

      It might be true that #1 is not illegal, But since I would bear risk if the assumption is wrong, then it is a better idea for the authorities and the courts to come to that conclusion.

    65. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why would someone NOT want to willingly throw themselves into the legal machinery of the usa for no personal gain?

      gee. i wonder.

    66. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And what if that officer was more than indifferent about you. or actively didn't like you for any reason real or imagined?

      'you smell like marijuana. we're now going to rip your life apart because we can.'

    67. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Possession of child pornography is a crime with severe penalties. The justice system does not care about how you acquired it. If a client hands you a laptop to repair that contains child porn, at the moment of transfer you become a criminal without even knowing it. Why roll the dice on the human decency of the local prosecutor by letting law enforcement know you are in violation?

      This is the problem with these laws. Because what is to stop someone who hates his boss to download a bunch of child porn onto the bosses pc and call the police?
      What is to stop a political rival gaining the upper hand on his opponent by arranging for a bunch of naughty pictures to be found on one of his campaign computers?

      I know too many people who have been denied due process of law under questionable circumstances. This law is bullshit.

    68. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The grossly disproportionate punishments for possession?

      5 to 10 years in prison and supervised probation for life once released.

      Not only is such a sentence unsustainable in terms of manpower, it is too easily abused for revenge or political expediency.

      Think about it, you download child porn on someones computer, call the police and their life is over. Easy Revenge!

      We have the Bush administration to thank for the passing of a lot of these brain dead laws and sentencing guidelines.

    69. Re:Where is deniability? by myowntrueself · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?


      •  
      • Because they didn't think about it really, or decide what they saw was a big deal, or something important.

      In the UK it could be photos of their kids at the beach and still be CP

      --
      In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
    70. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly what Bill Clinton expects when he visits Pedophile Island. Good Job!

    71. Re:Where is deniability? by cold+fjord · · Score: 0

      Look, nobody (except some seriously sick perverts) wants kids to be raped.

      Don't be ridiculous. There are entire cultures that have a special place for that custom. And there are people that post on Slashdot that think sex with children (normally referred to as rape) is just fine. Just today I saw a post from someone that stated in essence that he would side with child molesters over the police.

      If you want to pretend that drawings are a widespread, major source of injustice in the prosecution of alleged pedophiles, that's your affair. There are far, far more kids that have their lives ruined by child molesters than that.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    72. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, if the computer owner is discovered later will the technician become a suspect under the law just because he fixed the computer? I mean I would stop fixing other peoples computer and sell moonshine in Utah instead, maybe the damages are lower.

    73. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But since I would bear risk if the assumption is wrong, then it is a better idea for the authorities and the courts to come to that conclusion.

      So, you admit that out of fear, you would submit to the government's views regardless of your own opinion?

      Freedom was great while it lasted......

    74. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Too busy gouging their eyes out with a spoon, maybe?

    75. Re:Where is deniability? by Nyder · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      I respect the privacy of peoples computers I am working on. I am not a law enforcement officer, nor do I care to play one as I fix peoples computers. I do not look thru their photos or videos, nor should I, since that is an invasion of privacy, and I don't need to look thru their stuff to fix their computer.

      --
      Be seeing you...
    76. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think we've found our kiddy-diddler. Or at least an enabler.

    77. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rep. Craig Hall, from West Valley City, said he plans to introduce the bill at the state's legislative session...

      If you read the article, or even the summary, you would understand this is only an announcement to introduce a bill (think of the children). It almost sounds like he is announcing this sensationalized bill to get attention before an election.

      .

    78. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      (9)Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" And he said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?" (10)He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to Me from the ground. ...

    79. Re:Where is deniability? by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

      The vast majority of "child porn" has no children in it. That's the problem with shit-headed assholes like you. You can't differentiate between stuff that is bad and stuff you don't like.

      Raping anyone is evil and should be punished by torture. Unfortunately, US law doesn't allow for that.

      Looking at pictures of naked kids doesn't actually hurt anyone, especially if no sexual act is being portrayed.

    80. Re:Where is deniability? by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

      Also, not everyone considers consensual sex to be rape just because one of the consenters is young.

    81. Re:Where is deniability? by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

      Rape requires a lack of consent. Just because you're a condescending shitface who doesn't believe children can make up their own minds doesn't mean that sex with them is automatically rape. Yes, the law defines it as such, but the law gets a lot wrong. When it comes to sex, it gets most things wrong.

    82. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just admitted to being a pervert. I took a screenshot of your sick statements and forwarded it to the authorities. You won't endanger children anymore, creep.

    83. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      There is no sense and logic in laws concerning sex, drugs and copyright.

      You mean there is no sense on the reporting of these on Internet? What happens in a courtroom and what gets reported are usually two vastly different things.

    84. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Prove I encountered it.

      The recorded conversation with your buddy on your tapped cell phone where you brag about it.

      Yeah, that's what I thought.

      Oh dear...

    85. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You report a crime, then you yourself can be detained and/or brought in and confined/imprisoned for questioning

      Just stop, you are making a fool of yourself.

    86. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      BUT of course people who have done nothing wrong can still be afraid of law enforcement,

      Well it sounds like you certainly are. This usually comes from watching too much TV/Internet and not enough real life.

      if you're a small business owner, for example, and you start needing to take totalling days or weeks off to appear for depositions, and investigator interviews, and as a witness in court; this can cost you a heck of a lot of money, money which you won't be reimbursed for by the defendant or anyone else.

      Crap. A statement would suffice in most cases, and any appearance would be a couple of hours at most.
      If you're not willing to donate that time in the interest of putting a possible paedophile behind bars, and possibly saving a child from being raped, then you are a disgusting human being. Or as an employee it can cost you paid or unpaid leave time ---- which can mean suddenly you cannot pay your rent, or for transportation or other basic necessities.

      This is also one of the reasons people don't want to take on jury duty or go to court to fight a small lawsuit or traffic ticket, and will essentially accept default guilt..... pay a $50 ticket, versus take a couple days off work, and possibly put your job at risk while losing much much more in wages.

    87. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 2

      I would never cooperate voluntarily with the police as you did because as an individual citizen I have no legitimate interest in helping them to solve crimes.

      Well apart from them taking poeple off the street who could possibly harm you you mean? I'm not quite sure you know how things work...

    88. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 0

      Maybe for the same reason why they wouldn't want to report evidence of witchcraft if they encountered that?

      Does witchcraft involve the rape of children? If not then shut the fuck up...

    89. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      But this law makes me a criminal for not perpetuating that injustice.

      It's not your job to decide that. Our system of law has courts for that purpose, and this law simply allows for (hopefully) more possible cases to be heard by those courts.

    90. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      Does witchcraft involve the rape of children? If not then shut the fuck up...

      No, but it does involve throwing children into a vat of boiling chese. Now you shut up.

    91. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 3, Insightful
      And sometimes even the "deliberate" part is stricken from the law if the judge fells like it... or if she has another reason to hate you (such as having successfully contributed to derailing a huge construction project to be developed by one of her good friends)

      Case in point, I know a guy who ended up with "something" on his computer (he never actually was officially informed about what exactly that "something" was supposed to be, even after the trial). He ended up being convicted, despite our child porn law saying that it is an offence only if you knowingly and deliberately possess it, which was not the case. As proof for the "knowing and deliberate" part, the judge simply used the fact that the guy was a computer professional, and a professional just knows whatever is going on in his computer...

    92. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      Remember, potential jurors: no mens rea (guilty mind) no conviction, no matter what the law says. Just vote Not Guilty.

      Not in Luxembourg. Even if the law explicitly says that it is only an offence if done "knowingly and deliberately" (sciemment), a crooked judge may disregard that requirement if she feels that just by being a computer professional, you know in intricate detail what goes on on all your computers.

    93. Re: Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Yeah right. If someone goes around with pictures of child porn taped to their car, everyone who sees the car drive by is a criminal. If you think that is how it works you are a dumbass.

      Unfortunately, in many places, this is indeed how it works. But fortunately, the car owner goes to jail too (and will get a higher penalty for being a distributor), discouraging any such "pranks".

      But beware of cases where the owner of the metaphorical "car" cannot be easily determined. MAFIAA supporters has been know to booby trap music and movie files in peer-to-peer networks to contain child porn just in order to get downloaders into bigger trouble than mere copyright infringment...

    94. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      The recorded conversation with your buddy on your tapped cell phone where you brag about it.

      So, just don't brag about it.

    95. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 2

      What happens in a courtroom and what gets reported are usually two vastly different things.

      And sometimes, you get the occasion to go and watch such a trial first hand, and you see that the reality is actually much worse.

      ... and even if the law is written with a modicum of balance, a judge may still ignore/disregard those parts of it that she doesn't like.

    96. Re:Where is deniability? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      In the UK it could be drawings of fictional kids at the beach and still be CP.

    97. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Tell that to the judge:

      http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01...

    98. Re:Where is deniability? by yes-but-no · · Score: 1

      In my opinion, the law is wrong

      If you recursively apply your logic (which is sound), you will arrive at the above statement. To make it clear s/the law/any law/

    99. Re:Where is deniability? by yes-but-no · · Score: 1

      This law can be easily refuted by saying 'I don't know'
      Q: how do you explain these content in your computer?
      A: I don't know
      Case finished.
      But this law can be used to abuse/bully lot of folks who don't know the above Q & A

    100. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then you won't be a technician working in that jurisdiction for long. No one will take their business to someone known for falsely accusing his customers of serious crimes.

    101. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      In Italy? In 1716? Because that's relevant to this discussion...

    102. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      So, just don't brag about it.

      It sounds so simple right? You'd be surprised how many people get caught by their own mouth...

    103. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      What happens in a courtroom and what gets reported are usually two vastly different things.

      And sometimes, you get the occasion to go and watch such a trial first hand, and you see that the reality is actually much worse.

      ... and even if the law is written with a modicum of balance, a judge may still ignore/disregard those parts of it that she doesn't like.

      Which is why the appeals court exists.
      We all know the system isn't perfect, and it's easy to knock the odd case that misses, but I can't see how not reporting crime improves this system?

    104. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      In Italy?

      You know, in Salem there where witchcraft trials too...

      In 1716?

      Well, many consider those laws to be retarded for a reason...

      Because that's relevant to this discussion...

      Very relevant, indeed. Think about it.

    105. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      Which is why the appeals court exists.

      Fortunately. Even though, at that stage, the damage to the victim's reputation will already have been done.

      We all know the system isn't perfect, and it's easy to knock the odd case that misses, but I can't see how not reporting crime improves this system?

      If the crime is just "being a computer professional", then yes, best is to not give in to the madness.

    106. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The point of this law is to stop peoples from barging about it. The law punish those that report it, but they could still brag about it in private; sparking disgusting rumour. Now that's fixed, they can't tell anyone.

    107. Re:Where is deniability? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Let's see:
      - Privacy related issues (why are you watching videos on my computer I only asked you to fix Windows).
      - Self reporting related issues (it is illegal to watch child porn remember).
      - Chain of evidence (you planted child porn on my computer! [this has actually happened before])

      Sooo much can go wrong here for the reporter that it is waaay too risky.

    108. Re:Where is deniability? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Does witchcraft involve the rape of children? If not then shut the fuck up...

      You know that kids have been prosecuted for producing child porn after taking naked selfies, right?

      "child porn" is a legal definition and casts a wide net. Sure it encompasses the scum who should be jailed for life but it is wide enough to capture teenagers who have done no harm to anyone.

      If you found a naked selfie on a teenager's cellphone it would be completely immoral to report it and bring the force of some very nasty laws down on some poor kid who has done no harm to anyone. But under the new law, you risk fines and jail for not satisfying the bloodlust of prosecutors.

      Or are you one of those nasty people who believes that kids taking naked selfies should wind up in a federal prison and on the sex offendors register?

       

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    109. Re:Where is deniability? by Alypius · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Which is why the appeals court exists.

      By which time the defendant has likely used up all resources and funds; we've reached the point where the process is the punishment and, with respect to child port, the accusation is the conviction.

      It's really only a matter of time before political enemies start throwing this around and we see random (read: republican) politicians eliminated. cf. Circle, The.

    110. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Well, many consider those laws to be retarded for a reason...

      That's because there's no such thing as a witch or magic. How this relates to pedos is beyond me...

      Very relevant, indeed. Think about it.

      I did and still came up empty.

    111. Re:Where is deniability? by Alypius · · Score: 1

      Because of the recent /. poll; if you're not For The ChildrenTM, then you're clearly a Catholic priest child-rapist apologist.

    112. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      If the crime is just "being a computer professional", then yes, best is to not give in to the madness.

      Like just being a doctor? They have these same laws already, and the sky hasn't fallen on anyone's head...

    113. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      Like just being a doctor?

      In which jurisdiction exactly is malpractice leading to death considered the same as deliberate murder? Yeah, thought so...

    114. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You know that kids have been prosecuted for producing child porn after taking naked selfies, right?

      Yes, and I know of some cases where the punishment was a warning and a note on file. No prison term or burning at the stake...

      "child porn" is a legal definition and casts a wide net.

      And judges have this thing called discretion. Look it up.

      Sure it encompasses the scum who should be jailed for life but it is wide enough to capture teenagers who have done no harm to anyone.

      Sometimes yes sometimes no. That's why we have people called "Judges" who get to apply their brain to the problem (known as "Judgement") Thousands of kids do this everyday, and I know of none in prison for it. Maybe the system is as bad as you think?

    115. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      By which time the defendant has likely used up all resources and funds;

      Have they? So who are those people in the Appeals Court then?

      we've reached the point where the process is the punishment

      I've been to court, and spent a day in the cells because of it. Even then it wasn't as bad as you make it sound. I still prefer this system to the one you have failed to offer as an alternative.

    116. Re:Where is deniability? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Yes, and I know of some cases where the punishment was a warning and a note on file. No prison term or burning at the stake...

      And in some cases it wasn't.

      And judges have this thing called discretion. Look it up.

      1. they don't always use discretion
      2. People hace discretion too (look it up).

      Sometimes yes sometimes no.

      How the fuck is a teenager taking naked selfies causing harm to others?

      Here's an example of people using discretion:

      https://www.washingtonpost.com...
      http://uk.businessinsider.com/...
      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

      Just because it could have been worse doens't mean it wasn't bad.

      And here's a lawyers take on it
      https://www.isba.org/ibj/2010/...

      If *you* report a minor like that and thy wind up in prison because a judge does not use discretion, you are just as culpable as the judge.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    117. Re:Where is deniability? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Prove to me that I saw it.

      Unless I have no way of not encountering it (like, say, me being tasked with fixing some Windows bug and the person in question having some rape pic as his background picture), you will have a hard time trying to prove that I had no way of not knowing.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    118. Re:Where is deniability? by Opportunist · · Score: 2

      You ARE aware that the burden of proof is reversed in appeal, right? YOU have to prove that the verdict is faulty.

      Good luck there.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    119. Re:Where is deniability? by Opportunist · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but I don't make nearly enough money to afford the liability insurance that's pretty much mandatory for doctors today.

      --
      We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
    120. Re:Where is deniability? by Crowd+Computing · · Score: 1

      But this law makes me a criminal for not perpetuating that injustice.

      It's not your job to decide that. Our system of law has courts for that purpose, and this law simply allows for (hopefully) more possible cases to be heard by those courts.

      But this law makes me a criminal for not perpetuating that injustice.

      It's not your job to decide that. Our system of law has courts for that purpose, and this law simply allows for (hopefully) more possible cases to be heard by those courts.

      Great, more cases for the overloaded justice system. We might as well let Google adjudicate our morals.

    121. Re:Where is deniability? by nine-times · · Score: 1

      To me, this strikes of a feel-good, circle-jerk law.

      More likely, it's the sort of law that makes it so a prosecutor can plausibly accuse innocent people of doing something illegal so that they can have leverage. The idea is that you make all kinds of things illegal. When you want someone to cooperate, you find some law that they technically violated and threaten that, if they don't cooperate, you'll prosecute them for some weird obscure law.

    122. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you believe the police cannot make up a reason to detain you, it must be a wonderful day in ignorance today.

      If I was conducting interviews for an IT position, and your name came up attached to a child porn case in any way shape or form, you'd best believe I'm hiring any one other than you. You were involved, you are a perceived risk from now on.

    123. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Judges are elected, which means they run for their office.

      Some of them become much stricter on crime during election years.

      Just imagine how a conservative judge would use a case to appeal to the decency of his voters by punishing the wickedness of these sex offenders. Who cares if they are children, they need to set an example and win their next term.

    124. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      An old expression about shooting the messenger comes to mind... but that never really happened right??

    125. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Three word response by an AC? You're a troll, probably also an idiot.

    126. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because I don't call the cops on my clients - ever.

      It's one of my core principles of doing business.

      I'm not in Utah, but even if I were, I wouldn't change that. I don't look at my clients' pictures or movies, I have no reason to do that, so I won't find anything to call the cops on them for.

    127. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Absolutely untrue in the real world.

      If you report a crime, you immediately become the prime suspect, just because they've got a report of a crime and a real person that they might be able to pin it on.

      You want to not be a sheep? Then don't talk to the police. And THAT is the most important right you can exercise these days. They're not there to protect and serve, they're there to steal and imprison. The police are the biggest street gang out there, they are not your friend.

    128. Re:Where is deniability? by MooseTick · · Score: 1

      Child porn is contraband, just like cocaine. Being in possession of it is a liability. Now if you're a car mechanic and someone brings in a vehicle to be repaired with 10 kilos in the trunk, you likely aren't going to get in trouble. But its not an impossibility.

    129. Re:Where is deniability? by MooseTick · · Score: 1

      Date and time stamps on it being accessed while in your possession could be used as evidence if you did indeed encounter it. At the least, your home could be raided and all your computers gathered for analysis to see if you made any copies for yourself. Maybe they won't find anything because you are innocent, but it would be an inconvenience at the least.

    130. Re:Where is deniability? by MooseTick · · Score: 1

      If you really object, report any and all porn to the authorities as possible child porn. Unless you know all parties in a video or image and the time they were captured, you can't be totally sure they weren't minors and participating in child porn.

    131. Re:Where is deniability? by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      It's really only a matter of time before political enemies start throwing this around and we see random (read: republican) politicians eliminated. cf. Circle, The.

      In Luxembourg this is already happening now. We had this "bomb layer" affair 30 years ago, where it quickly turned out that some state actors must have been involved (police looking for an excuse for more funding? NATO "stay behind" group gone wild? who knows). So, the inquiry back then quickly stalled and was shelved.

      For the 20th anniversary, a radio station was doing a "flashback" about the events, this caused old witnesses to come forward again, and somehow kicked justice back into action, the file was re-opened. And low, and behold, some of these witnesses were being intimidated with bogus child pornography accusations. Of course, the judge in the "bomb layer" trial saw through this, and the witness did not actually get into serious trouble from these accusations.

      Roughly at the same time, a building contractor proposed a project to construct a huge football field plus mall in an environmentally protected zone. Lots of corruption money flowed to get the environmentally protected status of said zone lifted, to get bank credits at better conditions, etc. To bolster his influence, the building contractor even sponsored a national cycling team to run at the Tour the France. His guys were good for a couple of years. Of course, there were still people concerned about nature who opposed his project, and these people created citizen's initiatives against it, and asked pointed questions during meetings. And despite all the influence of the buidling-contractor-who-became-Tour-de-France-sponsor, the citizens did manage to derail the project!

      Unfortunately, revenge was on its way. While being active in cycling sponsorship, the building contractor met interesting people, including that judge who was also a member of the board of Tour du Luxembourg. And hop, they just nailed one of the citizen's initiative people for child pornography, causing him a great amount of anguish and forcing him to retire 6 months earlier than planned. Eventually he managed to get all penalties overturned on appeal, but he did pass a couple of miserable years until then.

      O, btw, did I mention that the judge was the same in both cases (bomb layer, and building contractor critic)? Funny how she can play both sides without blinking an eye...

    132. Re:Where is deniability? by SirLordGodfrey · · Score: 1

      Let me know when they stop imprisoning people for possession of loli/shotacon (underage anime/hentai porn basically), where no children were actually harmed, and yet in some states it's somehow equivalent to actual child pornography where there is actual harm (or worse).

      --
      "Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment."
    133. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Based on direct personal history, I will never again be reporting such.

      1) I ended up handcuffs (My nametag was on the computer I was repairing, which evidently is possession according to asshole police) after I reported such to a supervisor, who escalated through whatever process the job had.
      2) My firewall blew up when an adjacent .gov owned netblock attempted to enumerate my local services, and began spidering my webserver after I attempted to electronically report such.

      Admittedly, that was about fifteen years back. Maybe times have changed and the police and feds are nicer and more open now...

      But I'm going to stick with "You want me to report it, you have to promise complete immunity up front, in advance. Also, not react like raging suspicious assholes"

    134. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I had a friend who cheated on his GF. She got him back by downloading a virus that dumped childpr0n on his computer, then called the cops.

      He got arrested and is now awaiting his court hearing. He has nothing going for him, it's his word against hers.

      Lesson learned, don't share your computer. Or don't cheat: one of the two should work.

    135. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I've Never seen you before around here jack. You sound like a mr do gooder. A try hard. You are not welcome on slashdot. Gtfoh.

    136. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You just admitted to being a shill. I have taken a screenshot of your post and sent it to all my buddies. We are now laughing at you for being such a moron. Comprehension isn't your strong suit. Also people that disagree with you != crimes omgerddddd send them to jail.

    137. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You bring the heads of dead kings to my doorstep?

      This. Is. Slashdot!!!!!!!!!!!

      ***Kick****

      ***screaming bodies falling down a well****

    138. Re: Where is deniability? by Frankzy · · Score: 1

      In any western country that is not the US? .. Yes, absolutely.

    139. Re:Where is deniability? by kmoser · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      They may be family snapshots that include nudity, e.g. kids in the bath. Why ruin somebody's life for something like that?

    140. Re: Where is deniability? by JillElf · · Score: 1

      You can't be detained for reporting a crime.

      But if the accused is caught and goes to trial (or is even headed to trial), guess what? You get to put YOUR life on hold in case either side wants you to testify. Funny thing is that you can be served notice again and again to testify while one or both sides dick around. That happened to my mother who reported seeing a burglary in progress from the window in her computer room. My mother tried to be a good citizen and would have been fine testifying if they hadn't kept summoning her for a trial that was postponed again and again and again. After a year or so of being jerked around (mostly, if not entirely by the defendant's legal team), she relocated her computer away from the window so she wouldn't see anything that she would (or should) have to report in the future.

    141. Re: Where is deniability? by Falos · · Score: 1

      Yes. That is how it works.
      >you are a dumbass
      Yes, we've been using that phrase for a long time. Including whenever "zero tolerance" gets shouted around for votes.

    142. Re:Where is deniability? by swalve · · Score: 1

      Where?

    143. Re:Where is deniability? by gnasher719 · · Score: 1

      Rape requires a lack of consent. Just because you're a condescending shitface who doesn't believe children can make up their own minds doesn't mean that sex with them is automatically rape. Yes, the law defines it as such, but the law gets a lot wrong. When it comes to sex, it gets most things wrong.

      Just because you are (I don't really know, and I wouldn't want to know), doesn't mean that children can give consent to having sex.

    144. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Who the hell brags about seeing child porn on some dude's laptop? I don't know what friends you have, but you get no brownie points in my circle for that.

    145. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If you have actual evidence of that, then please bring it to the attention of - well, everyone, because somebody should be doing serious jail time there.

    146. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Because the suspect could be an important politician, officer of a corporation, military, other government organization, or other politically connected, "important", or rich individual.

      One could easily find themselves being "investigated" under the computer fraud and abuse act for "planting" the files on the computer by a business arrangement with a political rival. Powerful people seldom go to prison for their crimes and can make an ordinary person's life a living hell.

    147. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      In which jurisdiction exactly is malpractice leading to death considered the same as deliberate murder?

      What are you talking about?
      Doctors have mandatory reporting requirements on suspected drug and domestic violence cases. Having a "PC Doctor" report on suspected kiddy sex cases would be the same principle.

      Yeah, thought so...

      You know, when you ask a question you should at least wait for an answer before making yourself look foolish...

    148. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      How the fuck is a teenager taking naked selfies causing harm to others?

      In some cases, the photos meant for one person have been passed on to others without permission. This is why we have courts and judges, because your one off examples are vastly oversimplified for the real world.

      If *you* report a minor like that and thy wind up in prison because a judge does not use discretion, you are just as culpable as the judge.

      We're all in this together buddy. One solution is a legal system that we try to make work, the other is you make it up as you go because you think you know everything. I know which one I support.

    149. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      YOU have to prove that the verdict is faulty.

      Good luck there.

      Some people win appeals, so the system seems to be working. You're alternative is to not report suspected crime? Good luck with that strategy...

    150. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Yeah, but I don't make nearly enough money to afford the liability insurance that's pretty much mandatory for doctors today.

      If it's mandatory, the costs get passed onto your customers. Just like your doctor/lawyer/pilot/bus driver does.

    151. Re:Where is deniability? by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      It is always against the law to not report a crime, you are charged with accessory after the fact. The law they are claiming is extraordinarily dangerous, it basically demands an IT professional must prove they did not see child pornography whilst working on computer system. So exactly what kind of evidence is required to prove you did not see something? Good luck IT people with lots of money to confiscate ie proceeds from protecting child porn, who is going to get the benefit of the doubt, the new high performance police vehicle fleet or some nobody IT staffers.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    152. Re:Where is deniability? by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Maybe for the same reason why they wouldn't want to report evidence of witchcraft if they encountered that?

      Personally, I'd only report it if the owner was a right-wing politician, a judge in bed with shady building contractors, or a forensic expert bragging on facebook about his fondness for the Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit.

      Or if you found pictures of your own kids or very young relatives being raped perhaps.

      Child porn is not witchcraft.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
    153. Re:Where is deniability? by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      Maybe they don't like the concept of thoughtcrime.

      'Thoughtcrime' vs. invasion of privacy, or worse, of those who should be protected by those who can protect them.

      Where there are consumers of child porn, there are those willing to take whatever means necessary to create the porn to sell.

      This is not a victimless crime.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
    154. Re:Where is deniability? by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      Or drawings, apparently.

      Look, nobody (except some seriously sick perverts) wants kids to be raped. But the problem is that there are way too many things that don't involve rape or even any harm to a child which have ruined people's lives.

      Then you argue for the definition of child porn to be changed, if you disagree with it - not for child porn to be legal (or ignored).

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
    155. Re: Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a terrible law, as is any law that is unenforceable. The problem is that a lot of unenforceable laws end up being used as a bludgeon with very little required evidence just to make a example.

      Fix someone's PC and never notice it, then they get caught later? How can you prove you didn't see it? What if an IT person really doesn't like you, plants and reports?

      A far better law would be one that would exempt someone from prosecution for reporting it, as it would at least help with the first case.

    156. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I dunno if u report that and word goes out you snoop on your customers PC's they bring in good faith...
      I think I'd be proud to take the 1000 fine rather than poison my customer base with mistrust.

    157. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Because it's not my job to stop crime, especially victimless ones.

    158. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 2

      Exactly, no way of telling which person did it. Here's an idea, why not go after people who actually do things to the child, rather than those that just look? You're not a murderer if you have a murder scene on your computer.

    159. Re:Where is deniability? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      Blackmail for one.

      I think they meant a good reason.

      Presumably if you're a paedophile you'd not report a fellow baby raper, that doesn't make it a legitimate reason.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    160. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess they edited the summary?

      " The proposal would require computer technicians to report child pornography to law enforcement or a federal cyber tip line if they encounter the material, but they would not be required to go searching for it."

    161. Re:Where is deniability? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Exactly, no way of telling which person did it. Here's an idea, why not go after people who actually do things to the child, rather than those that just look? You're not a murderer if you have a murder scene on your computer.

      But if you pay someone else to go out and commit and film a real life murder, you are some sort of accessory. Even if you're not directly financing them, by providing an audience for child abuse images/videos you are helping perpetuate the business.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    162. Re:Where is deniability? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Also, not everyone considers consensual sex to be rape just because one of the consenters is young.

      Yes, those people are called paedophiles.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    163. Re:Where is deniability? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      The vast majority of "child porn" has no children in it.

      On the face of it that sounds...illogical.

      I assume you mean that you don't consider porn with someone aged 15 child porn because they're a young human being, not a child. How about 10? 4?

      The law has to draw a line somewhere, otherwise it would be legal to have sex with babies.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    164. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      I'd not jail anyone paying for a murder either. Just jail the person who actually does it. One death, one crime. No extra jail-man-hours required, as one person died, and you certainly shouldn't take any away from the person who did the actual murder. And your argument falls over when you consider most images will be downloaded without paying. If you want to jail accessories, make it a crime to pay for the images.

    165. Re:Where is deniability? by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Because it's not my job to stop crime, especially victimless ones.

      If you think child abuse crimes are victimless, you're a sorry excuse for a human being.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    166. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Oh dear, you've fallen for the media hype like so many do. I suppose you're one of those who thinks child abuse is worse than murder? Anyway, looking at a picture of anything has no victim. Just jail the folk who actually abuse people. In fact you could say those looking at pictures might be tempted to go and actually abuse kids if they couldn't find any photos to quench their perversions. Just like it's been shown that if you can play racing games on a computer, you quench your desire for driving fast on public roads.

    167. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      Presumably if you're a paedophile you don't put your computer full of images into a computer shop. If I had a dead body hidden in my car, I'd not put it in for a service!

    168. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      You got put in jail when you were innocent and you want to defend the justice system?!?

    169. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How cute, you think that's what the police are for these days.

    170. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You got put in jail when you were innocent and you want to defend the justice system?!?

      Yes because it does work most of the time. I find that people who knock "the system" have never experience life outside of it (hint, it gets a LOT worse)

    171. Re:Where is deniability? by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      You support the one which doesn't give ordinary people a shred of discretion.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    172. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      No justice system at all would be worse, but there are so many ways it could be improved.

    173. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Which one do you support?

    174. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      No justice system at all would be worse, but there are so many ways it could be improved.

      I'm sure there are, but moaning in here isn't one of them.

    175. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      If it changes someone's opinion, more people will do things/sign petitions/vote a different way etc.

    176. Re: Where is deniability? by warich · · Score: 1

      Would you like to cite your source for that? I can't find it. Don't think I like them them, I just want the truth.

    177. Re:Where is deniability? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You'll only change someone's opinion by offering an insight to a better way of doing things, not simply disparaging the current model with one line comments.

    178. Re:Where is deniability? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      why would anyone NOT want to report it?

      ...to keep a copy for themselves or more likely.. to avoid confrontation, discomfort, questioning and a lot of time spent doing it. Generally, doing things that are not part of their job and for which they have no qualifications making judgement calls and for which the consequences of mistakes can ruin the lives of people and their connections to friends and family. And to attach their name and identity to something that they do not wish to be connected to.

      Basically, this is when the people you elected decide whether it IS a crime to NOT be part of your policing force.

    179. Re:Where is deniability? by hucker75 · · Score: 1

      This is just a chat forum. Besides, simply knowing that others have a certain opinion is useful.

  2. How big is this problem? by Copid · · Score: 1

    What percentage of IT people who discover child porn look the other way?

    --
    An interesting anagram of "BANACH TARSKI" is "BANACH TARSKI BANACH TARSKI"
    1. Re:How big is this problem? by BonThomme · · Score: 1

      Maybe we should require them to report that they are not reporting it.

    2. Re: How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently it happens enough in Utah to introduce a bill for it... so that's saying something.

    3. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I am shocked that this was not already the law??? I thought that we had to report this stuff already especially if it is on company computers.

    4. Re:How big is this problem? by LMariachi · · Score: 1

      And how many child porn enthusiasts are blithe enough about the egregiously criminal nature of their "hobby" to hand over an unencrypted volume of illegal material to an IT repair person? It's not like forgetting that you had an IM conversation about drugs or something that's saved in a logfile somewhere.

    5. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What percentage of IT people who discover child porn look the other way?

      One person's family photos of children in the bathtub is another person's child pornography. How does a computer technician discern the subtle distinction?

    6. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Since when did the State have the right to conscript police censors?
      Last I looked, NO ONE can be held to account for refusing to witness an act.

    7. Re:How big is this problem? by penguinoid · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Imagine you're an IT professional, and you report your client for having what turns out to be (after the court case) harmless pictures of his children, maybe get your ass fired. Or perhaps you don't report it because they seem like harmless pictures, then you end up spending half a year in jail with a nice, no-more-jobs-for-you criminal record.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    8. Re:How big is this problem? by josiahgould · · Score: 2

      More than you'd think.

    9. Re:How big is this problem? by dgatwood · · Score: 1

      Given that (statistically speaking) most computer users are borderline computer illiterate, you'd also expect most child porn enthusiasts to be borderline computer illiterate. Now maybe they're more paranoid than average, and are more likely than average to take steps to hide content that they know is illegal, but even if they're twice as likely as an average person to use encryption, you'd still have 60% of them keeping child porn in an unencrypted volume....

      --

      Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

    10. Re:How big is this problem? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      One by the name of G. Glitter, Esq.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    11. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Where's the training course where we're taught to identify people 15 years old compared to 16 years old?

      I think the only thing this law is going to do is arrest IT people after the fact. Once someone with child porn is arrested, they'll go back through the person's bills looking for when the computer was serviced. Then they'll raid everyone who was working that day on the off chance that someone might have copied the drive. Someone will have copied the drive because taking an image of it is the first thing you're supposed to do when working with someone else's data. So unless the company has a policy to securely wipe all consumer images the moment the computer is handed back, we'll see more news stores about how a 'child porn ring' operating out of a repair shop was taken out.

    12. Re:How big is this problem? by BitterOak · · Score: 2

      What percentage of IT people who discover child porn look the other way?

      Most workers of any type aren't interested in snooping through people's private things and reporting what may or may not be illicit activity. (Is that topless girl 17 or 18? Are those kids in a bathtub innocent photos of the client's children or something more sinister?) Just like your typical plumber wouldn't ordinarily report that possible meth lab in the basement, your typical computer repair person doesn't want to report suspected copyright violations, irregularities on income tax files, or possible child pornography. I once had a job that involved me working in people's homes and my general rule was mind my own business and get the job done. I think most workers feel the same way.

      --
      If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
    13. Re:How big is this problem? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Based on my experience as an IT technician in Silicon Valley for the last 20 years, you're more likely to get fired for not reporting child pornography than getting fired because an accused user was proven innocent in a court of law.

    14. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Agreed. I used to work in a JAG office and whatever I saw in the course of the performance of my IT work I forgot as quickly as possible. If I had to review a sample of emails during mailbox migration or repair and/or a complete systems transition to a new mail server, I scanned the emails for anomalies not for content. Any conversations on-going in my presence were self censored and blocked out from memory by simply not listening to the content of the background conversation.

    15. Re:How big is this problem? by ls671 · · Score: 1

      Act? Which act? I don't know what you are talking about. I didn't see anything happening...

      --
      Everything I write is lies, read between the lines.
    16. Re: How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's election season and this is the conclusion you come to? Wow.

      I'm going to let you in on a secret: Politicians don't solve problems, they invent imaginary new ones to champion against.

    17. Re:How big is this problem? by cold+fjord · · Score: 1

      The participation of an adult erect penis or sex toys in the scene could be used as an indicator by the "less astute." @@

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    18. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is nothing special.

      In general, you are *already* obliged to report *any* crimes you observe to the authorities.

    19. Re:How big is this problem? by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 1

      If you can show that you made your report in good faith, there's no legal basis for firing you or taking any other punitive action, and the courts will almost certainly side with you on this.

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    20. Re:How big is this problem? by jrumney · · Score: 1

      If a computer repair technician "finds" pictures of someone's children in the bathtub (presumably with filenames as suspicious DSCN0345.JPG), then the problem is more with the technician's snooping than the person who sent their computer in for repair. Presumably genuine child porn might be more easily distinguishable from the filename without opening the file, but I'd still be a bit concerned about why the technician was snooping about the filesystem.

    21. Re:How big is this problem? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Imagine you're an IT professional, and you report your client for having what turns out to be (after the court case) harmless pictures of his children,

      Just out of interest, what is an example of a photo where you think this could possibly happen?
      I don't know too many parents that put their dick in their children's mouths...

    22. Re:How big is this problem? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Where's the training course where we're taught to identify people 15 years old compared to 16 years old?

      Just like when you see a dude running into a bank with a gun, how do you know if he's a crook or a cop?
      What about a suitcase left at an airport?
      You don't have to know, make a phone call and let the people who can find out, do their job.

    23. Re:How big is this problem? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I once had a job that involved me working in people's homes and my general rule was mind my own business and get the job done. I think most workers feel the same way.

      Speak for yourself. Everyone I know who worked as Sysadmin used to sniff through other people's stuff just for kicks. We've also had a few cases of baggage handlers (freight monkeys, not security) at the airports rummaging through people's bags. So I disagree. You're less likely to sniff through someone's stuff in *their* house, but when their property is at your place, and you're bored, a different set of rules apply.

    24. Re:How big is this problem? by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      I've been working PC repair 30 years, never run into any CP. Of course I wasn't going through people's files looking for shit to steal like the Geek Squad guys, and I would always say if they wanted files backed up "If you have me do this I may see any of those files, so do not have anything in there you do not want me to see and have me back it up" and I've never come across a single case of CP

      Oh don't get me wrong there were plenty of cases where a nice bottle of brain bleach would have been nice, such as the gal whose desktop was a constantly revolving pile of her fat hairy BF's taint and nutsack pics, the gal that had made a ton of pics of herself posing with her dildos that I swear were so big they could go in a gunrack, or the guy who had a porn bug that wallpapered the screen with vids in the "2 girls 1 cup" vein, but no CP.

      Now that said...I'm sure I'm gonna get hate for this but I have to agree with my friend that works at the state crime lab on this very subject that most of the guys you see caught with CP? Really need to be getting mental help versus jail time. he said anybody whose done any field work in this area can spot the difference between the actual predators and the porn addicts in like 10 seconds, the predators are setting themselves up with jobs where they can get to kids, volunteering at places where they can get at kids, they are like sharks heading to the area where there is the most prey. He said those guys? Life without parole, there is nothing you can do to stop them attacking kids except throw 'em in a box or a bullet to the head.

      Now compare that to the porn addicts or as he calls 'em "socially retarded"...they have zero contact with kids, most have little contact with anybody if they can help it, you look at their record and they often haven't even gotten a speeding ticket, its like night and day compared to the predators. They also have these HUGE collections of porn and they always follow the same pattern, the oldest is straight porn, then mild kinks like anal,trans,gangbangs, then BDSM until they reach bestiality and CP. He said they just sit and watch so much porn they become unable to even get aroused on anything short of the most perverted shit. A perfect example was one they had awhile back, when his mom died in 1998 he simply stopped leaving the house, paid everything online or by phone, and to get him out of the house in 06 they had to tranc him. That guy is doing 65 years on the taxpayer's dime when a couple years in a mental health facility probably would have fixed the issue.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    25. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How does a computer technician discern the subtle distinction?

      They don't bother because it would risk their own freedom. With laws like this there's no liability for mistaken reporting. Don't worry though, "God will know his own".

    26. Re:How big is this problem? by swb · · Score: 1

      What percentage of IT people do a quick calculation on how extortable the computer owner is? What percentage of computer owners end up paying off the IT guy to keep quiet?

      I ran into a situation 15-20 years ago when the company I worked for had just gotten our mail system connected to the Internet. It used a DOS application to serve as an SMTP gateway between the Internet and the mail system.

      As you might expect, it was a PITA and a few times a week would choke on messages with attachments for some reason. You had to go into the queue directory manually and figure out which message was choking it, pull it out, restart the gateway and let it process. This was all new enough that I would usually check out the contents of the stuck message to either see if I could tell why it was choking on them and to pass on the email to whoever was the recipient.

      As it happens, I opened this one email and found two pictures. One of a well-liked "rising star" employee, one of those people who'd normally be considered a shining example of the meritocracy. Hard working, talented, modest, personable. The other picture was his correspondent commenting on his picture and the picture of the employee. Trouble is, both pictures were almost a portrait-style poses of men in fancy suits with erections and their testicles sticking out of the open fly of their pants.

      The employee who belonged to this picture, besides his rising star status, was also (posing) as a kind of conservative Christian -- he had a wife and child in a photo that could have come from the church newsletter stock photo archive.

      I just deleted the message, and chalked it up to one more person with odd sexual tastes, although I thought the guy was a total fraud after that. But I also thought how easy would it be to squeeze him for $10K? Hey buddy, what would your wife and pastor think of your fancy-mens-clothes-and-penises fetish? What would your boss think of it?

    27. Re:How big is this problem? by penguinoid · · Score: 1

      Just out of interest, what is an example of a photo where you think this could possibly happen?

      Baby pictures, especially involving a bathtub. Or, for people from other cultures where it is usual for women to go topless and pre-pubescent to go naked, especially if there's water involved. Or nudists.

      --
      Don't waste your vote! Vote for whoever you want, unless you live in a swing state it won't matter anyways
    28. Re:How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You report when there is NO DOUBT. Grave cases are obvious. You don't report when in doubt. "Child in bathtub" may very well be harmless, so you don't report that.

    29. Re: How big is this problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They can make your life a living hell tho.

    30. Re:How big is this problem? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Just out of interest, what is an example of a photo where you think this could possibly happen?

      Baby pictures, especially involving a bathtub. Or, for people from other cultures where it is usual for women to go topless and pre-pubescent to go naked, especially if there's water involved. Or nudists.

      Wait, we already have these things and the sky hasn't fallen on anyone's head. In fact if you go to most school shows, gyms, parks, swimming pools they already have a no photography policy specifically for child protection. I've never heard of any of these people being fired for enforcing them.

  3. The idea seems to be... by Gonoff · · Score: 1

    This will discourage normal IT nosiness. This will make sure that more with such pictures get away without being detected.

    Is that the intended consequence?

    --
    I'll see your Constitution and raise you a Queen.
  4. You know what would be more relevant? by MikeRT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    A law requiring the automatic dismissal from employment of any police officer in Utah who fails to report criminal conduct by colleagues to the local district attorney.

    1. Re:You know what would be more relevant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't be silly. Law enforcement is something the Geek Squad does, not something the police do.

    2. Re:You know what would be more relevant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well, see, that's already the law, and people do get penalized for it. However, it's not criminal law.

    3. Re:You know what would be more relevant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Excellent Idea !!!

    4. Re:You know what would be more relevant? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and add this ... automatic dismissal from employment of any police officer or prosecutor's office employee who fails to report criminal conduct BY the local district attorney.

  5. better yet, require congress critters to report it by WindBourne · · Score: 0

    The GOP leadership allowed Florida's Mark Foley to chase Capital teenage Male Pages. They did NOTHING about it.
    I would say that if CONgress REALLY wanted to be upstanding, they would require that CONgress critters report not just child molestation, but prostitution, bribes, theft, dicking with somebody's wife/husband, etc.
    Of course, that would eliminate ALL of the GOP, and probably about 1/2 or more of the dems.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  6. How do you know? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It is obvious if the subject is like 5 years old. But how are you supposed to know the difference between a 15 year old and an 18 year old?

    If you report someone and it turns out the subject was 18+ years old, you've just brought down all kinds of shit on someone who, under even the most draconian rules, did not deserve it.

    When you rely on amateurs to do something you guarantee that you will get amateur results.

    1. Re:How do you know? by l0n3s0m3phr34k · · Score: 1

      Not only what you said, but I could also see a civil lawsuit towards the IT person happening. Especially if the end user was a business person, someone accused of child pornography can still have their lives all jacked up. I doubt this law provides any indemnification for the IT people.

    2. Re:How do you know? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I doubt this law provides any indemnification for the IT people."
      In California as a health care provider I am required to report child abuse. There is also indemnification and either legal representation to defend me and/or reimburse me (I forget the exactness) if someone sues me for doing so. it is very possible there is indemnification. Laws and supporting regulations are usually written by lawyers, and even if doing the bidding of blowhards (Governor Slugwell?) lawyers usually look at prior law, including laws in other states. If they write a law that is later ruled unconstitutional it can damage their own rep. Also, copying another state' law is smart: it's free, and it is possible some legal vetting had already been done.
      IANAL, and invite any lawyers to correct or refute me.

  7. This sets a very dangerous precendent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That can easily be expanded to other data and turn IT professionals into de-facto spies of the gorvernment

    1. Re:This sets a very dangerous precendent by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      With Big Data today it's easier to write a script.

  8. Ooh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Your attitude suggest that you might be resisting. Perhaps a tazing is in order.

    1. Re:Ooh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Are you serious? A tazing? In Utah? A guy was shot being in his car as a cop approached because the cop "thought he might have a gun". Another guy was shot in front of Panda Express in Utah because he was in costume play with a play sword. Please tell me more about this Utopia where you are only just tazed.

  9. This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I was doing a PC refresh project at a local hospital when my coworker transferred user data from the old PC to the network when he noticed some odd file names flashing on the status window. After the transfer got done, he checked the file names and discovered that the files contained child pornography. He informed the I.T. director, who informed security. That started a very uncomfortable process for everyone involved.

    Security did a recorded interview with the coworker and I.T. director in the presence of the hospital legal counsel. Security then confiscated the hard drive from the old PC and the new PC from the desk without any notice to the employee. The employee freaked out for three days straight because he didn't have his computer with the incriminating content, couldn't do his job, and everyone from his management to I.T. to security couldn't tell him anything. Nothing screams like guilt than someone screaming, crying and running in the back hallways for hospital staff. He was quietly removed from his job as a tax accountant without the incident hitting the newspapers or landing in court.

    The last thing the hospital wanted was a child pornography scandal just before the annual fundraiser.

    1. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think accidentally finding this would put such a person in a guilty position instantly because it was on his system and he observed it. It seems one of those things to quickly delete and reformat the drive, and not mention anything. But risk is getting caught and the authorities then ask how come you didn't report it? Then there's the IT people that were handed this stuff which can incriminate them as well. I think risks of accidentally finding chunks of plutonium in your desk are less.

    2. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      You're overlooking the fact that my coworkers and I were following hospital policy by informing and cooperating with security. If we haven't followed policy, we would have face immediate termination and possible legal action. We did our jobs within hospital policy, our contracts and under existing law. I have a clear conscience regarding this matter. If the law required mandatory reporting, that responsibility should lie with the hospital administration. Hospitals, like many corporations these days, will happily sweep a scandal underneath the carpet if given a choice in the matter.

    3. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I think accidentally finding this would put such a person in a guilty position instantly because it was on his system and he observed it.

      Not necessarily. Some forms of spyware will drop child pornography files on your PC, incriminating the user without their knowledge. The hospital required "intent to possess child pornography" as a reason to terminate the employee. That employee made a huge scene in the back hallways over a three day period — which security recorded on their surveillance cameras — provided the "intent" needed. A regular user would have a requested a loaner laptop until the mystery of the disappearing PC got resolved.

    4. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superior_orders

    5. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      While I wasn't going to post as the first AC was just being a troll, now your response brings up a few legitimate questions on the topic in general and your case in particular.

      From the initial post:
      I was doing a PC refresh project at a local hospital when my coworker transferred user data from the old PC to the network when he noticed some odd file names flashing on the status window. After the transfer got done, he checked the file names and discovered that the files contained child pornography.

      From your response:
      You're overlooking the fact that my coworkers and I were following hospital policy by informing and cooperating with security.

      The first question is: Were you and your coworkers following hospital policy by investigating the contents of user files when it appears you were tasked with as you say a "PC refresh project?"

      The second question is: If the files had contained normal (legal) pornography would you still have reported it?

      The last question is: If the files had contained HIPAA protected client/patient information, would you and your coworkers reported yourselves for violating HIPAA privacy laws (and most likely been fired)?

      I would guess that any future employers would read your story and make damn sure not to hire your company if you or your coworkers are going to take it upon themselves to 'investigate' the contents of a customer's machine because some filenames were 'odd.'

      This is the rub of the story and the legislation. Now you have it in your head that if something like child pornography is found on a machine you worked on, you will be held responsible for not reporting it. Now you have it in your head that to cover your ass you had better 'investigate' client's data just in case it might be child pornography.

    6. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You are a frightening absolutist. Shooting at your allies will not bring you a safer world for your children.

    7. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Informative

      The first question is: Were you and your coworkers following hospital policy by investigating the contents of user files when it appears you were tasked with as you say a "PC refresh project?"

      A PC refresh project is replacing old PCs with new PCs. In this case, it was replacing 1,500 PCs and deploying 3,000 flat screen monitors. If the user's Windows profile wasn't already pointing to the network share, we would change it from the C: drive to the network share and Windows copy the data to the network. We monitor the copying process to make sure that the files are copied over to the share. We keep an eye out for any large collection of personal music, videos or picture files that aren't supposed to be on the PC per hospital policies, which users are reminded of three times in email prior to replacing the PC. If personal files are found, users are requested to delete their personal files and reschedule to have their PC replaced. My coworker noticed a series of unusual file names — "jenny_does_daddy.jpg" — during the transfer process that prompted his curiosity and the child pornography collection was found. He reported it as required by hospital policy.

      The second question is: If the files had contained normal (legal) pornography would you still have reported it?

      Yes, as required by hospital policies. Many Fortune 500 companies also have similar policy requirements for both legal and illegal pornography.

      The last question is: If the files had contained HIPAA protected client/patient information, would you and your coworkers reported yourselves for violating HIPAA privacy laws (and most likely been fired)?

      We had no reason to look at any HIPAA-related data that belonged on a PC. If I caught a coworker browsing for patient data or taking home a hard drive that wasn't wiped and destroyed, I would report him to my supervisor as required by hospital policies. Security made the determination that files were child pornography prior to confiscating the hard drive from old PC and the new PC.

      I would guess that any future employers would read your story and make damn sure not to hire your company if you or your coworkers are going to take it upon themselves to 'investigate' the contents of a customer's machine because some filenames were 'odd.'

      What I did was fairly routine in IT. If suspicious activity occurs during the course of my job, I'm obligated to report it and let management decide what to do. That's why employers hired me for the last 20 years. The people who don't follow policy are the ones who shouldn't be hired.

      This is the rub of the story and the legislation.

      If you think that's bad, my current job has PCs with HIPAA and classified data. HIPAA can send you to jail. Classified data can get you the death penalty. As long as I follow policies, I don't have a problem.

    8. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      If you bothered to read the Wikipedia article, you would noticed that "superior orders" is limited to the military and often used as excuse for knowingly doing something wrong but blaming someone else. This doesn't apply to the situation that I described.

    9. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by LMariachi · · Score: 1

      HIPAA allows for confidential patient information to be shared with certain other people in the course of their professional responsibilities. Doctors consulting with colleagues, nurses checking charts, hospital billing staff writing up bills, etc. Hell, even orderlies and janitors could be privy to some personal information. IT staff must be included in that category, no?

    10. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      IT staff must be included in that category, no?

      Yes and no. IT staff have an obligation under HIPAA to protect confidential patient information by ensuring that the PC as a whole is working correctly. While confidential patient information may be sitting on the hard drive, IT staff doesn't have any business reason to look at it. When it comes to confidential patient information, ignorance is bliss.

    11. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      The same concept does apply. Your hospitals legal and or security team have absolutely no legal authority to tell you not to report something to the proper authorities, nor can they legally instruct you not to report it as they would themselves be in breach of a raft of laws.

    12. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      obviously the OP read the article but you fucking didn't. The article explicitly says military OR Civilian.

    13. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      hopefully you were smart enough to report this too the police or you will be in a world of legal pain down the road if and when he is caught and he reveals he would have stopped doing this if only the people that first caught him had actually followed their legal responsibilities, especially if he is not only a viewer but a producer of the porn.

    14. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      You're overlooking the fact that my coworkers and I were following hospital policy by informing and cooperating with security.

      WTF?
      The law trumps your employer's employment policy. Where do you live? Do you realise you have just admitted your guilt in aiding a felony?

    15. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      HIPAA can send you to jail. Classified data can get you the death penalty. As long as I follow policies, I don't have a problem.

      Following policies also can get you in jail. Good luck with that strategy...

    16. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by ArsenneLupin · · Score: 1

      My coworker noticed a series of unusual file names — "xxxxx_xxxx_xxxxx.jpg" — during the transfer process that prompted his curiosity and the child pornography collection was found.

      You know that some Slashdot readers will be foolish enough to not resist their curiosity, and google for that. And possibly a small percentage of those will be unlucky enough that it will come to the police's or whoever's attention. Hopefully, they will remember during their trial to cite where they got that file name from, so that you too can get a taste of what it's like to be on the receiving end of "I was just following procedure".

    17. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      In the US you are probably guilty of being an accessory after the fact and of destroying evidence. Going back to English Common law silence is consent. Medical people are required by law to report all forms of child abuse.

      Yea the hospital you work in if it was in the US broke all sorts of laws. You maybe off the hook because you reported it to security but the hospital is in a world of trouble if this info is ever made public.
      AKA the guy gets caught and cuts a deal to bust the hospital for covering it up.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    18. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Following policies also can get you in jail. Good luck with that strategy...

      Which is why my employer (the government), the prime contractor and subcontracting agency I work for each require that I take mandatory training on the proper policies to follow each year. With a few obvious exceptions, these policies are no different than the policies of many Fortune 500 companies. Breaking these policies is where people get into trouble.

    19. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Where do you live?

      California. Which does list "a commercial computer technician" as a mandated reporter. However, the hospital never informed me that I was a mandated reporter.

      On and after January 1, 1985, persons entering employment which makes them mandated reporters must sign statements, provided and retained by their employers, informing them that they are mandated reporters and advising them of their reporting responsibilities and of their confidentiality rights. (P.C. 11166.5 (a))

      http://www.fccap.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=40

      Do you realise you have just admitted your guilt in aiding a felony?

      I didn't commit a felony under the law as the specified law didn't apply to me. I was never informed by the hospital that I was a mandated reporter. Besides, my role in the affair was incidental. I was only aware that child pornography was found, but I didn't know any of the specific details involved. I wasn't interviewed by security. I didn't have have a recorded conversation with the hospital attorney. Everything that happened at the hospital is what typically happens at many Fortune 500 companies.

    20. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      You know that some Slashdot readers will be foolish enough to not resist their curiosity, and google for that.

      If you're looking for child pornography, you're not going to use a commercial search engine. Google has an entire department that looks at nothing but pornography and does a good job at flagging illegal pornography. The file name I provided was a made up example.

    21. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Your hospitals legal and or security team have absolutely no legal authority to tell you not to report something to the proper authorities, nor can they legally instruct you not to report it as they would themselves be in breach of a raft of laws.

      My coworker and I were not mandated reporters under the law. Neither security nor legal told us not to call the proper authorities. We followed hospital policies, security initiated an investigation, the hardware was confiscated, and the employee got terminated three days later.

    22. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      The article explicitly says military OR Civilian.

      All the historical references cited in the article are military and/or dictatorship control. I didn't see any examples of corporate control. In fact, I don't think I ever heard of anyone using the Nuremberg defense in a corporate scandal.

    23. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Medical people are required by law to report all forms of child abuse.

      I'm not medical. I'm just a guy in the IT department for a hospital. In fact, I was a contractor on a special project to replace the computers. My coworker and I followed hospital policies. If we were mandated reporters under the law, we would have to sign a legal statement acknowledging that particular role and the hospital would have provided additional training. After all, the hospital has policies for mandated reporters.

    24. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ignorance of the law is not an excuse and yes you aided a felony. The hospital is probably in more trouble. And NO this is not what happens at fortune 500 companies, I work for one in Security and I can assure you the standard practise with this is to engage the police as the liability risk for not doing so is astronomical. For porn it would just be a sacking or warning, for child porn they will not and should not hesitate in reporting.

    25. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Ignorance of the law is not an excuse and yes you aided a felony.

      Why don't you turn me in? I'll be more than happy to talk to police. I didn't do anything wrong by following hospital policies. I'm not a mandated reporter as required under the law. I've worked for several hospitals as an IT contractor. No hospital has ever informed me that I was a mandated reporter, required that I sign a statement that I was a mandated reporter and provided the training to be a mandated reporter as SPECIFIED BY THE LAW.

    26. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      With a few obvious exceptions, these policies are no different than the policies of many Fortune 500 companies. Breaking these policies is where people get into trouble.

      I've had some experience in Government too (both state and federal) and it is not the same. A lot of government policy is enforceable by law because there is public money and reputation at stake. Private companies make policy only to protect their personal revenue (unless they are supplying to Govt and are then bound by their policies too). The Law still takes precedence over anything a private organisation tries to claim.

    27. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Why don't you turn me in? I'll be more than happy to talk to police. I didn't do anything wrong by following hospital policies.

      Well that's really for a court to decide. I can't imagine that you would be a target, however your statement would probably be useful if a prosecutor wanted to go after someone in charge at the hospital.
      Yet the guy that was fired is still free to roam and fund more child rape. I hope you sleep well knowing that's ok because as long as an HR policy was followed, everything is alright...

    28. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless they do have a reason to look at it (say the database it's stored in has some invalid data that needs to be cleaned up or some such) then they can look at it same as a nurse or dr. they can't redistribute it or tell anyone about it.... but they can look at it just the same.

    29. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 1

      The last question is: If the files had contained HIPAA protected client/patient information, would you and your coworkers reported yourselves for violating HIPAA privacy laws (and most likely been fired)?

      If the files had contained HIPAA protected information, I'd expect he'd have done his job and informed senior staff that some idiot was storing protected data in text files, jpg files, word documents, whatever, on his personal drive/network share, rather than within the official document management system which allows for access, change, and what not management.

      --
      Vintage computer games and RPG books available. Email me if you're interested.
    30. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Yet the guy that was fired is still free to roam and fund more child rape.

      That may or may not be true. The police may have been involved. The guy may have gone to court. Just because the news media didn't pick up the story, doesn't mean that the guy isn't sitting in prison, on probation or found innocent. I don't know, as I was not directly involved in discovering the child pornography.

      I hope you sleep well knowing that's ok because as long as an HR policy was followed, everything is alright.

      I do sleep well at night. That's the whole point of having policies in place. If the system failed, it didn't fail in the I.T. department.

    31. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Private companies make policy only to protect their personal revenue (unless they are supplying to Govt and are then bound by their policies too).

      Fortune 500 companies are often publicly held companies that are required to have policies in place for all kinds of stuff. The reporting structure is nearly identical between private and public sectors: the IT tech finds pornography and reports it to the IT director, who in turns reports it to HR and/or security. At that point, it's no longer an IT issue. The employee is quietly no longer employed. If the police were involved, HR, security and legal won't comment because of privacy laws.

      What's not going to happen is a public humiliation with a perp walk by the police in front of the news media. Which is what I think a lot of people who accused me of committing a felony really want. This reminds of a radio talk show about a man who got more prison time for raping a dog than a child, where the parents and animal rights activists calling in were going after each other's throats.

    32. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      Which is what I think a lot of people who accused me of committing a felony really want.

      No-one accused you of committing a felony, but from your own words you sound like you aided a felony offence, by not reporting a criminal act to the police.
      I think the message others and myself are trying to get across is that justice to work, we all need to participate, regardless of what you company HR dept thinks. .

    33. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      I think the message others and myself are trying to get across is that justice to work, we all need to participate, regardless of what you company HR dept thinks.

      My coworker and I did exactly what we were supposed to do as IT technicians under the law. If you don't like the fact that we followed policy and the law, change the law and the policy will change.

    34. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      You still have the legal issue of silence is consent. Hospital policy does not override the law. You had knowledge of a crime being committed, you did not report it, and you helped with a cover up all because you were afraid of getting fired.
      I am not trying to say you are a monster you are just human but that is exactly what are are describing. You took part in a coverup of a felony.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    35. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      You took part in a coverup of a felony.

      If that's the case, than I have committed multiple felonies over a twenty-year career. Every time pornography — leagal or not, it doesn't matter — pops up, my obligation as an IT technician is to report to management. Management reports it to HR and/or security. Once HR and/or security gets involved, everything becomes quiet. The only indication that any action got taken was that the employee no longer working for the company. No one outside of HR and/or security knows if the cops were called or the employee had his day in court. This is standard operating procedures for many businesses that do not have a "mandated reporting" requirement under the law.

    36. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      "If that's the case, than I have committed multiple felonies over a twenty-year career. Every time pornography — leagal or not, it doesn't matter — pops up, my obligation as an IT technician is to report to management."

      Yes if it is legal porn then it is not an issue.
      If it is illegal then you also must report it to the police or see that it is reported to the police.
      AKA you can report it to management and then report it to law enforcement. The simple solution would be to ask management, "Do you want me to report this to the police are will you handle that?"

      Your job rules can not take precedence over the law.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    37. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      The simple solution would be to ask management, "Do you want me to report this to the police are will you handle that?"

      Management's response will be to point to policy and turn it over to HR and/or security to deal with. The illegal porn might be legit baby pics, parting gifts from spyware, something a previous user left behind, or the real thing. IT technicians are not trained to make that determination.

      Your job rules can not take precedence over the law.

      Job rules (policies) are written in accordance to the laws to protect everyone. As I pointed out to someone else, change the law and have IT technicians become mandated reporters. The law specifies that employers with mandated reporters must have employees sign legal statements and must provide appropriate training.

    38. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by LWATCDR · · Score: 1

      " IT technicians are not trained to make that determination."
      Oh come on. Your statement was that it was kiddie porn and they guy was let go to avoid a scandal.
      That is why this new law is should not be needed current laws cover it pretty well. What you are describing is not one but two felonies being committed.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    39. Re:This can be a huge can of worms... by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Oh come on. Your statement was that it was kiddie porn and they guy was let go to avoid a scandal.

      My coworker said it was child pornography. Security made the determination that it was child pornography. The guy was terminated from his employment and what happened afterward was never published in the local news, which doesn't mean that the cops weren't involved or the guy didn't have his day in court. Although crying and screaming in the hallways for his computer back was pretty damning.

      That is why this new law is should not be needed current laws cover it pretty well. What you are describing is not one but two felonies being committed.

      I've been reading up on this. Businesses have an obligation to be proactive whenever an employee reports child pornography on their networks. (In some jurisdictions, the reporter has automatic immunity from any prosecution under the law.) First, investigate the situation. Second, secure the computer with the images and hold for one year for legal proceedings. Third, contact the authorities who or may not pursue an investigation. Fourth, discipline the employee (usually termination). If they don't, the business itself owns the child pornography and becomes criminally liable. Most HR experts recommend a zero tolerance policy towards pornography and automatic termination regardless of what type of pornography it may be. This is consistent of what I've seen over the last 20 years in my career.

  10. They want to make us all into police by xappax · · Score: 5, Insightful

    In practice this is a minor and pointless change - almost anyone who sees evidence of child pornography will already be inclined to report it voluntarily if given an easy and anonymous way to do it.

    The real point of the law is to strengthen the idea that people in non-law enforcement professions can be forced into acting as police. Next, teachers who hear students talk about violence are forced to report the student to the authorities. Librarians who lend out books about Islamic extremism must notify DHS.

    It's a path to curtail civil liberties, and of course it starts with child pornography. Because who's for child abuse?

    1. Re:They want to make us all into police by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Next, teachers who hear students talk about violence are forced to report the student to the authorities.

      You must not be a regular /. reader. An article from earlier this week was about a UK Muslim boy being questioned by authorities after his teacher reported that he mistakenly wrote that he came from a "terrorist house" for a school assignment.

      http://news.slashdot.org/story/16/01/20/1245216/10-year-old-muslim-boy-probed-for-terrorist-house-spelling-error

    2. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ... acting as police. Next ...

      Not really. Enough people already send anonymous tips to the police, including the police themselves. If there's a shortage of tipsters, the police can always run a "Dob in a ... " campaign. The next step will be reporting pirated movies and software, as the government makes everyone responsible for the assets of rich 'people'.

    3. Re:They want to make us all into police by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

      CP is easier to define then pirated movies and software.

    4. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I live in the UK (the home of vagueness), and I disagree with that entirely.

    5. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Then just get drunk, beat up someone and then throw up on the floor and pass out. That's the only legal thing you can do in the UK. Unless you're a Lord or MP, in that case you can rape all the kids you want.

    6. Re:They want to make us all into police by hey! · · Score: 1

      Not that your concerns aren't legitimate, but they aren't congruent with what the summary claims, which is that nobody will be compelled to go looking for dirt on anyone else.

      So this is similar to the "mandated reporter" laws in other situations where someone's safety (particularly minors) is at risk. For example in many states if you are a doctor or teacher and discover signs of physical abuse or neglect you are legally bound to report that information. In roughly half of US states clinical psychologists are mandated to report patients who are planning to harm others.

      So assuming those mandatory reporter laws are reasonable, then whether this law is reasonable depends on the degree it responds to what legally would be considered harm to someone -- in this case the minors who are featured in the material. To the degree which it compels reporting of porn made without actual minors (e.g. with young-looking actors or through completely virtual methods), it would be unreasonable.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    7. Re:They want to make us all into police by Etcetera · · Score: 1

      In practice this is a minor and pointless change - almost anyone who sees evidence of child pornography will already be inclined to report it voluntarily if given an easy and anonymous way to do it.

      The real point of the law is to strengthen the idea that people in non-law enforcement professions can be forced into acting as police. Next, teachers who hear students talk about violence are forced to report the student to the authorities. Librarians who lend out books about Islamic extremism must notify DHS.

      It's a path to curtail civil liberties, and of course it starts with child pornography. Because who's for child abuse?

      I'm assuming it varies state-to-state, but in California I'm already a mandatory reporter as an EMT for abuse, teachers are already mandatory reporters in many places, as are certain other professions. Although I certainly understand the search-and-seizure concerns around this, frankly I see it as a positive for IT professionals. Congratulations, guys, "IT" is growing up and is expected to be Doing The Right Thing. Maybe in a few more years "Software Engineering" will have some requirements too, like any other field that uses that term.

      And yes, child pornography is contraband. Period. Has been for a very, very long time. The IT professional is in possession of it at that moment, and frankly should want to get it out of their hands as quickly as humanly possible.

      IMO this is much, much more about instilling responsibility into IT workers than it is "expanding the scope" of something that's already fairly well expanded to begin with... We've already had the debate about child abuse, and child pornography. We as a society are willing to enforce FAR more heavily restrictions and preventative steps around that than we are for virtually any other crime. And there's a reason for that.

    8. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next, teachers who hear students talk about violence are forced to report the student to the authorities.

      Already there with abuse:

      https://facultyhandbook.uchicago.edu/page/mandatory-reporting-suspected-child-abuse-and-neglect-and-faqs

      My university had a similar policy on the table that was more far reaching: if you knew or suspected abuse long in the past, you had to report it. The professors, especially those in the English department, were up in arms about that one. Who decides what cryptic sentences a student has written mean she was abused when she was younger? This stifles honesty and creativity: students who don't want to retread the past (suppose that abusing parent is dead already) cannot speak of it lest every word from their mouths launch an investigation they don't want. And the fervor and clamor that student has faced when it turns out he was talking about getting bullied on the playground instead in some metaphorical language? Can't undo that stress.

    9. Re:They want to make us all into police by cold+fjord · · Score: 1

      In practice this is a minor and pointless change - almost anyone who sees evidence of child pornography will already be inclined to report it voluntarily if given an easy and anonymous way to do it.

      It's a path to curtail civil liberties, and of course it starts with child pornography. Because who's for child abuse?

      Who's for child abuse? There are people that post on Slashdot that are for it. There are pedophiles that post here. There are people that have advocated legalizing adults having sex with minors. There are plenty of people that post and moderate that think nothing should be done about one of the fruits of child abuse, child pornography, because, "thoughtcrime!" And here you are showing up with what is in essence the "slippery slope" argument: "It's a path to curtail civil liberties". Isn't everything a "plot" that leads to a police state on Slashdot? There are people on Slashdot that will side with child molesters over the police, and some of them have said as much.

      --
      much of left-wing thought is a kind of playing with fire by people who don't even know that fire is hot - George Orwell
    10. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a path to curtail civil liberties

      That path has already been created. It starts with Civil Liberties that Leftwingers don't like, like 2nd Amendment. Then they start telling people that they cannot say things, or get fired (or worse). Then it is a flag, and other "Thought crimes"

      No, the left is just as guilty as the right with their thought crimes. Which is why we need 1st Amendment protections and 2nd Amendment protections.

    11. Re:They want to make us all into police by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      The real point of the law is to strengthen the idea that people in non-law enforcement professions can be forced into acting as police.

      Um, "Police" comes from the word policy, ie In the civil and criminal security model, the politicians, create policy, the police enforce it, and the courts are used to decide if policy has been broken or not. In this system, most crime is "reported" by civilians, nothing changes here. This is exactly what already happens with doctors and domestic violence and drug cases.

      Next, teachers who hear students talk about violence are forced to report the student to the authorities. Librarians who lend out books about Islamic extremism must notify DHS.

      That already happens, because if regular people don't get involved, the system breaks.

      It's a path to curtail civil liberties, and of course it starts with child pornography.

      Take off the tinfoil hat dude, you're going full retard...

    12. Re:They want to make us all into police by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OK, then, let me say just this: fucking young children destroys their lives. Few later heal enough to thrive, most either suicide or survive as shattered, agonized human beings (junkies, hookers, strippers, losers); even if they stay out of that Hell, then, male or female or trans or fluid or whatever, their lives tend to be bleak, joyless, and without hope. Some grow up to be very successful child pornographers; if you believe the stories (and I do), some grow up to be powerful in business or politics (and they abuse children).

      THAT'S why you stop this shit.

      I led group therapy sessions for such damaged people for years.

      It is truly imperative we do what we can to stop this creation and spread of this evil, short of justifying a surveillance state in the name of "won't someone think of the children."

      I WANT my videos of consenting 20 year-olds, but I would myself shoot anyone making or shipping out child porn.

  11. Can't wait for the training! by OzPeter · · Score: 5, Funny

    HR: Please complete your mandatory child pornography identification training before the end of the month
    Worker Bee: What?!?!?! Why do I have to do that?
    HR: Because if you don't complete your training and you encounter child pornography and don't report then you could be subject to prosecution
    WB: So I have to know what child pornography looks like, so that if I "accidentally" look at some image or video I will recognize it.
    HR: Yep
    WB: and if I don't?
    HR: There'll be other consequence.
    WB: Like what?
    HR: Well .. if you get prosecuted, then you might sue us because we hadn't given you the required training to meet the legal requirements of you job.
    HR: And we can only employ fully trained staff.
    HR: You do want to stay on staff don't you?
    HR: So it's a win-win for everyone if you do the training.
    WB: *sigh* .. OK .. what does this training consist of?
    HR: Looking at child pornography.
    WB: How the fuck is that even legal?
    HR: Don't worry, all your training will be given through an FBI approved course.

    --
    I am Slashdot. Are you Slashdot as well?
    1. Re:Can't wait for the training! by antdude · · Score: 1

      I'm so glad that I am not a WB! WAs FTW! ;)

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
    2. Re:Can't wait for the training! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Capt. Yossarian: That's some catch, that Catch 22.
      Doc Daneeka: Finest one there is.

  12. "The Utah bill would require computer technicians" by bagofbeans · · Score: 1

    The definition of a "computer technician"? Whaddabout when you install something on Uncle Frank's lappie at home?

  13. As an IT tech worker in Utah by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    We already do this, the law is more a formality than a change of any kind. Every company in this state will fire you on the spot if you fail to report child pornography. In terms of what constitutes "knowing about it," it's if you actually are exposed to child pornography while working on someone's computer. Moreover, if you do report it, you can get recompense for being sexually assaulted, so there's a bit of financial motivation to do so as well.

    Also, when you call into Dell tech support, that's here, so be mindful of remote technicians too as they have to report anything they think might be child porn. Most companies here have a 0-tolerance policy where if you view pornography on your work computer (even at home), and you can't prove that it was a forcible exposure (like a banner ad on a regular site) then most will fire you instantly.

  14. Bill? by bfmorgan · · Score: 0

    Who is this Utah Bill?

    --
    I hope this caused some synapses to fire.
    1. Re:Bill? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 1

      Who is this Utah Bill?

      He's the Marvel version of Yosemite Sam.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
    2. Re:Bill? by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

      Yup, and what is he going to do with all that pornography?

      --
      I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    3. Re:Bill? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think he's related to Florida Mann.

  15. Great by rsilvergun · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I'm looking forward to some poor sap in Utah going to jail because they didn't report a pic of a 17 year old girl. What happens if it's her laptop and she forgets something? The potential for abuse is epic, and prosecutes are always happy to put another notch in their belt.

    --
    Hi! I make Firefox Plug-ins. Check 'em out @ https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-mp3-podcaster/
    1. Re:Great by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

      Schools that loan laptops to students to take home and have the ability to turn on the builtin camera remotely have run into this issue. The odds of a teacher or administrator turning on the camera while the opened laptop is in the bedroom of a undressed child is pretty high. That's a good enough reason for parents to prevent their children from having computers in the bedroom.

    2. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. It's a pretty good reason to prevent school districts from using "free hardware" as an excuse to play peeping tom in the name of warrantless surveillance/wiretapping.

      The fact that little Johnny/Susan may be hanging out on Chatroulette is the reason to not allow children to have computers in their bedroom.

    3. Re:Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What happens if it's her laptop and she forgets something?

      C'mon, are you not paying attention. This is standard procedure. you arrest her and send her to prison with a bunch of child abusers. It's to keep the kids safe.

  16. Do they have a clear definition of Child Porn? by blackpaw · · Score: 1

    And no, "You'll know it when you see it" isn't enough,

    I foresee an uptick in cases of children being ripped from their parents because Mummy or Daddy took a picture of their child playing in the pool.

    1. Re:Do they have a clear definition of Child Porn? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      Depending on how zealous local law enforcement is, having a naked baby lying on sheepskin picture can be regarded as child pornography and charges can be brought against the parents.

    2. Re:Do they have a clear definition of Child Porn? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's the entire plan.
      When the limitations are vague enough, who or what is guilty or can be accused becomes entirely up to the authorities.

      In other words, everyone is guilty, it's just a matter of when they'll feel like cuffing you for it.
      Like if you ever give them trouble.

    3. Re:Do they have a clear definition of Child Porn? by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I foresee an uptick in cases of children being ripped from their parents because Mummy or Daddy took a picture of their child playing in the pool.

      Do you? How will you measure this 'uptick' to work out if you were right, or just a crackpot?

    4. Re:Do they have a clear definition of Child Porn? by Crowd+Computing · · Score: 1

      Yes, I've always wondered why the terms we often see in the press are "child pornography" and "pedophile" rather than "child abuse photos" or "child abuser". Pornography has become a generic term for nudity, so it's quite possible for have photos of naked children who have not been victims of abuse. Why not focus on the real crime, the abuse of children?

  17. Re:"The Utah bill would require computer technicia by blindseer · · Score: 1

    Not only that, define a "computer". Is an iPhone a computer? What about those electronic picture frames? A television? Televisions now have enough features, on board storage, and such that the distinction is getting foggy. A digital camera? Not a computer in common usage but it certainly contains the ability to gather, process, store, and output data.

    If people fail to report child porn upon seeing it on a device not typically considered a "computer" could they be prosecuted under this law? What makes seeing child porn on a computer any different than, for example, seeing it on a Polaroid?

    This is all ignoring the fact that it would be almost impossible to prove that someone did in fact see child porn on a digital device but failed to report it. If they did not report it then how would law enforcement prove that they even saw it?

    Very stupid law, the people that created this law should be ashamed.

    --
    I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
  18. how long? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How long do you have to report it?

  19. It always starts with child porn by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It starts with child porn. All the intrusions always do because no one speaks up against it. Then you break into stuff under the suspicion of child porn. Then you bust people for illegal movies or random victimless crimes

  20. Why that's a real issue by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 2

    That law puts decision making burdens on the wrong people and there are no end of debatable cases.

    The police department of a nearby city told an employer that the picture of a young boy in his underwear on an employee's computer was actionable.

    On the other hand, if an "IT technician" gets too sensitive, people with bathtub photos of their kids are going to have their lives ruined.

    Then there's the issue of whether it's even safe to report things. Right here on Slashdot, someone who runs a porn hosting business said that the first time they found a customer running underage porn, they contacted the authorities. The authorities then threatened to prosecute the hosting firm. When that firm finds child porn today they silently fire the customer and delete the content.

    1. Re:Why that's a real issue by silas_moeckel · · Score: 2

      Working in the hosting industry you end up for a few standard scenarios.

      The rather tasteful pictures often from photographer parents of naked toddlers etc. The crazy anti porn people with flag it and report it and the cops are smart enough to ignore it. Sure some pedo might enjoy it but it's obviously not the intent. The cops do not care unless they have an ax to grind.

      The late teen about the same, the actual porn and most photographers people have photo ID showing them to be 18+ at the time. Again the internet porn warriors bitch and the cops do not care.

      Actual kiddie porn the cops only seem to care if they take CC and thus give them a huge net of easy warrants. We pull the content down either way.

      --
      No sir I dont like it.
  21. selective enforcement by deodiaus2 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Incidences like this have and always will be about selective enforcement. There are a plenty of laws on the book, which people violate every day. It is just a matter of who gets prosecuted.
    Back in the 1990's, one of the Kennedy's was accused of having sex with his kid's babysitter. For a while, this became a news story, only to disappear into the background.
    When the government wants to make a example out of you, they just fabricate evidence to frame you. Look at Nixon and the case of the pumpkin papers. Evidence will be planted to make you look bad. This is especially useful against dissidence and anyone who disagrees with the state. After all, if you are not for us, you are for the "enemy".

    1. Re:selective enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Incidences"? Really?

    2. Re:selective enforcement by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 2

      Naw, that's legit, if a bit bureaucracy-speak-y.

      My own disquiet lies in the fact there appear to be Slashdotters who will mod a post Insightful for referring to the "pumpkin papers"...

      --
      Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
    3. Re:selective enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Back in the 1990's, one of the Kennedy's was accused of having sex with his kid's babysitter.

      She was 19 at hat time. It seems only she and Micheal know if they started having sex before she was 16. Without her cooperation, it would be impossible to prosecute him. I don't see this as an example of the rich evading the law. However, I agree that's pretty common problem.

  22. One Amendment by Baldrson · · Score: 1

    The 10th.

  23. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by tlambert · · Score: 1

    The GOP leadership allowed Florida's Mark Foley to chase Capital teenage Male Pages. They did NOTHING about it.

    The Democrats also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    The Green Party people also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    The independents also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    In other words, people, regardless of party, allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

  24. virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software can by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 1

    virus / malware / disk / etc scanning software can make it seem like a file was viewed.

    Also what if in a sting a system per loaded with some CP gets wiped and there is no report?

  25. This is a Really Bad Idea by wisnoskij · · Score: 2

    Even leaving aside the undertones of Nightwatch-ian tyranny, this is just a very covertly nefarious law.

    We already know that child porn includes pictures that you yourself took of yourself, while you are a minor. Most high school students have pictures on their devices that can be defined as child pornography, hell most parents have pictures on their devices that might be classified as child pornography. And now it has been made illegal to practice best judgement.

    --
    Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
    1. Re:This is a Really Bad Idea by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Even leaving aside the undertones of Nightwatch-ian tyranny, this is just a very covertly nefarious law.

      We already know that child porn includes pictures that you yourself took of yourself, while you are a minor. Most high school students have pictures on their devices that can be defined as child pornography, hell most parents have pictures on their devices that might be classified as child pornography. And now it has been made illegal to practice best judgement.

      Depending on the jurisdiction, the child photographing themselves may have already committed a criminal offence. Certainly in Australia there are teenagers snagged in that technicality and are now sitting on the convicted child sex offenders register. In this context how does one exercise sound judgement when the law has already defined the act as a criminal offence?

  26. malware by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So then, what happens if I happen across CP but I suspect that malware has dumped it on the person's computer? Report it, and possibly send an innocent person to jail? Or nuke it from orbit, and possibly get a $50k fine leveled on me?

    I suppose if I don't report it, and simply wipe the drive, then the only ones who possibly know it was there are me, the end user, and the one who put it there. But what if it's a sting operation, and the 'customer' is a fed, or working for the feds, looking to see if our store reports these matters--such as similar agents are sent to buy booze and cigarettes to check that convenience stores ID patrons?

    What if, in the above scenario, I don't find the planted evidence, complete whatever tasks are required, and return it to the customer? Can I simply claim "I found no CP there," or will the default stance be assumption of guilt?

  27. They shouldn't need a law for that. by X10 · · Score: 1

    I mean, you would report sexual child abuse anyway, wouldn't you?

    --
    no, I don't have a sig
  28. Great! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Apparently we don't have enough ways to falsely accuse somebody of being a pedophile (although that's not a crime), or a child molester or child pornographer.

  29. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by dgatwood · · Score: 1

    Wiped? Nothing. You can wipe a disk without looking at the contents....

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  30. Never forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When ever approached by the police for questioning:

    'My lawyer has informed me to never make statements to the police or prosecutors. I therefore exercise my right to remain silent. If I an arrested or detained at a police station, I wish to see a lawyer as soon as possible.'
    END of any investigation about you. No one can ever know if you saw child pron or not on the computer. You have just sealed yourself against being made a criminal because of someone else's crime.

    1. Re:Never forget by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah. Unfortunately the cops will simply notify some people in the media who will then report about a "suspected child molester" being interrogated and "released pending further investigation". They will not give names but addresses? Yes. They will write where "the suspect" works. That alone will get you fired immediately and if you ever try to sue, your name will be outed. Your life is over the moment this accusation is made against you. Your only way out is suicide.

  31. Cartoons? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 4, Informative

    Do we have to report cartoons too? What about furry hentai? Does a cartoon drawing of an anthropomorphic animal boy being forced to suck the tentacle of a squid monster equal child porn?

    I'm pretty sure those making that bill have never been into the dark corners of teh IntarWeb.

    1. Re:Cartoons? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Those dark corners are about to be history. Haven't you read the memo? The government is going to sanitize the internet for good.

    2. Re:Cartoons? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not sure that US or European laws say on it but I know Canadian law would include cartoons.

      Some trivia knowledge I could really do without.

    3. Re:Cartoons? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, yes and yes.

      The cartoon/furry/hentai community has been dealing with this shit for over a decade now.

      Sadly, the cartoon/furry/hentai community is so small and has also been shit on by everyone for so long that they've basically given up resisting. When 4chan practically bans your content outside of /b/, you're already dead.

    4. Re:Cartoons? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the UK, yes. They specifically discussed such techniques that might be used to avoid the law.
      It only says that the image has to be identifiable as a human (ears and tails aside) and that a reasonable person would consider the image to be underage.
      Since even real Japanese people can look (to western eyes) underage all the way into their 30s, you're pretty much screwed if your life comes under the microscope and someone needs to justify your arrest.

      So far, (at least in the UK) manga/anime porn has only been used as a sentence enhancer - ie. the guy had actual child porn, but the manga images were used to enhance to sentence by saying he had thousands of child porn images rather than 10s.

      Also in the UK, the child doesn't even have to be undressed to count as child porn - only that it focuses on the genital region, so be careful when taking pics at your children's gymnastic competitions.

    5. Re:Cartoons? by RyoShin · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't be surprised if some have been (or, at least, some of their aides, who may have mentioned it.) Even informed they would still vote this into place, because just an accusation from a "credible" source--like, say, the Utah State Police--can completely destroy someone's life. Even if there's not even enough to convene a grand jury, or any logical individual would pass over as something simply vulgar, it doesn't matter: An investigation for child porn at company X, or person X, and X. Is. Done.

      I know, I know, "never attribute to malice", but when it comes to overbearing and/or broad government laws, I'm pretty sure there's equal parts malice and stupidity behind them.

  32. Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by raymorris · · Score: 4, Interesting

    If a person finds a collection of child porn, they should of course do the right thing. Having said that, I would think about a couple of things before calling the cops.

    I would think about the guy who spent a couple of months in jail amd nearly spent years in prison over a DVD with 19-year old Lupe Fuentes. Lupe was a popular porn star ten years ago, with a wikipedia page about her, etc. A doctor and a police investigator both testified that the model in the video was "definitely" under age, when a five-second Google search would have told them she was 19 when that video was made.

    The model, flew out to Puerto Rico to show her driver's license amd passport to the court, yet the defendant still was not released right away. I would not want to initiate a situation like that. Remember the doctor thought she was definitely underage, so I could make the same mistake.

    I might also respond differently to finding a large, organized collection pf 8-10 year olds than I would to one picture that appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen. I imagine there might be some situation in which I would simply remind the person that child porn is felony carrying a hefty prison sentence, so they shouldn't go anywhere near it, or anything that might look like possible child porn.

    1. Re:Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by gweihir · · Score: 1

      Nice additional fact: Because there are now quite a few refugees coming into Europe that claim to be underage (and if they are they have quite a few advantages), a larger European newspaper looked into how precisely a medical professional can determine age when having full access to the person (i.e. _not_ just pictures or video). Turns out that even with the person standing right before you and all modern medical equipment at hand, you can still be off and regularly will be by up to two (!) years. With just video or pictures, it will be more.

      --
      Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    2. Re:Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If a person finds a collection of child porn, they should of course do the right thing. Having said that, I would think about a couple of things before calling the cops.

      I would think about the guy who spent a couple of months in jail amd nearly spent years in prison over a DVD with 19-year old Lupe Fuentes. Lupe was a popular porn star ten years ago, with a wikipedia page about her, etc. A doctor and a police investigator both testified that the model in the video was "definitely" under age, when a five-second Google search would have told them she was 19 when that video was made.

      The model, flew out to Puerto Rico to show her driver's license amd passport to the court, yet the defendant still was not released right away. I would not want to initiate a situation like that. Remember the doctor thought she was definitely underage, so I could make the same mistake.

      I might also respond differently to finding a large, organized collection pf 8-10 year olds than I would to one picture that appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen. I imagine there might be some situation in which I would simply remind the person that child porn is felony carrying a hefty prison sentence, so they shouldn't go anywhere near it, or anything that might look like possible child porn.

      We are not arguing that the abuse of children is a horrible crime that should be punished, but...

      Those who use such a law as a tool for revenge or false incrimination or gaining the upper hand on political rivals or discrediting whistleblowers should be prosecuted 10X more severely than the holders (but not producers) of the "pornography" whether actual or perceived.

    3. Re:Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by Jack+Griffin · · Score: 1

      I would think about the guy who spent a couple of months in jail amd nearly spent years in prison over a DVD with 19-year old Lupe Fuentes.

      This has been mentioned a few times in this thread so I did a quick Google (the very thing everyone is accusing the prosecutors of this case of not doing). A few things to note:
      Nowhere reputable says this guy spent time in jail (Never trust newspapers with court stories). The court docs say he was given bail, which means he's not in jail while the trail is being prepared. There's even a mention that he breached bail and the court let him off with a warning. And the case got dismissed, so there's no official record of jail time.
      He was arrested for possessing what looks like kiddy porn. Google Little Lupe Fuentes, she looked like a kid in this video even if she wasn't. What should an LEO do in this case, just ignore a possible CP case based on...??? Arrest is the reasonable course of action and let the court decide. That's how the legal system works.
      Even if Lupe wasn't under age, what is this guy doing with material that *looks* like kiddy porn? Did he actually know himself, or did he buy it thinking she was a kid? We can't know, but as a common porn user, I won't go anywhere near anything that looks illegal, so makes me suspect when others do.
      The summary of the event is a guy with porn that looked like kiddy porn got arrested. The court found out through due process that she wasn't a kid and he got off. Ignoring all kiddy porn because of this one example seems to be a strange course of action IMO. It seems reasonable to me that any suspect cases should be reported, and let the people who decide, do their job.

    4. Re: Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He got off implies somehow he dodged justice, when in reality justice was served late and he was cleared of any wrong doings.

      So if I'm over 18 and I look young for my age I am forbidden from being in porn? Can I also not get married or even have sex until I look older?

      This man should never have been charged, the job of police is to investigate crime, something they failed to do. I don't want police hauling in and charging people based on their "feelings".

      I would have sued.

    5. Re:Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Here ya' go: 'n', 'n'. Take them, they're free.

    6. Re:Lupe Fuentes case is one reason not to by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      "...in which I would simply remind the person that child porn is felony"

      At which time you become an accessory.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
  33. What an idiotic reply/ by ArcWild · · Score: 1

    And YOU are a f*cking moron, for thinking that prosecuting OWNERSHIP of a picture is legit. Child porn needs to focus on stopping the CREATORS of porn, not people who look at it. It's a religiously biased BS law for wanna-be do-gooders. No one gets whipped when you look at a picture, retard.

    1. Re:What an idiotic reply/ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one gets whipped when you look at a picture, retard.

      Yet you continue to derive enjoyment from viewing the act of abuse depicted therein, and that's perfectly okay, right?

  34. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    the only ones that were aware, were GOP top members. And they did not, and probably still do not, care when their own members are perverts and criminals.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  35. Teachers are already compelled by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    All school and medical workers must report suspected child abuse or neglect (also adult abuse or neglect) to CPS (APS). If a child walks into a mall and yells, "My dad hit me!", every single teacher, administrator, janitor, doctor, nurse, psychologist, etc. within earshot must contact CPS or face losing their licenses.

  36. And the proof is? by frnic · · Score: 1

    How do they propose to prove that the IT Tech knew something not reported?

    1. Re:And the proof is? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 1

      If PC comes under suspicion of having child pornography, a forensic examination of the log files may reveal who viewed the files.

  37. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by sjames · · Score: 1

    If I am working on a specific problem someone is having, I won't really look to see what image thumbnails are showing unless it's actually relevant to the problem. It's called being a professional.

    The question is do the cops really know that (especially when they get a lot more headlines is they "don't know" that)? Professionalism in police work is in many ways the opposite of professionalism in IT. Do they know that the "un-missable" wallpaper on a user account is totally missable if I log in as Administrator to fix a driver problem?

  38. It's an affirmative action program by russotto · · Score: 1

    It's intended to encourage hiring blind IT techs. Being blind is a convincing defense against having looked at child porn.

  39. technically we are all guilty by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so really this is all so stupid, we are all guilty, if you looked at your genitals before you were 18 then your a pedo perv monster! also if you had a natural birth then OMG what a horrible person your mother was for having your entire body in her vag! the world is such a stupid place today, thought crimes indeed!

  40. Hardcore Mormons wont like it. by Lumpy · · Score: 1

    AS it seems that most of the ultra Mormons are all for marrying and abusing multiple children. Is the tide turning against the mormon church's death grip on Utah? Typically any laws that go against anything that the church condones is frowned upon and drummed out of legislation.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:Hardcore Mormons wont like it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Care to quote your source?

    2. Re:Hardcore Mormons wont like it. by PRMan · · Score: 1

      "My bigotry" - There, I quoted it for you.

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    3. Re:Hardcore Mormons wont like it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

      I see you know nothing about the faith and how fucked up it is.

    4. Re:Hardcore Mormons wont like it. by LWATCDR · · Score: 0

      Wow who knew that members of the KKK posted on Slashdot.
      The LDS Church has some of the strictest rules about child abuse, spouse abuse, and plural marriage. Yes you will hear about fringe offshoot churches but they are not the big LDS Mormon church.
      So you are ignorant, stupid, a liar, and or a bigot. Circle the ones that apply.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
  41. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    On the contrary, perverts and criminals are easier to manipulate:

    Denny Hastert: Gee Mark, been messing with the pages again?
    Foley: Uhhhh
    Hastert: Just vote how I tell you and nothing gets mentioned, see? Pay no mind to all the cash I'm moving around, by the way . . .

  42. Mandatory reporting by davidwr · · Score: 1

    Arguably, existing mandatory reporting laws on child abuse and exploitation also apply to child porn: If a mandatory reporter sees child porn, he is arguably aware that child abuse has occurred and he has an obligation to report it.

    I say "arguably" because there are good counter-arguments, including:
    * Many if not all state-level US mandatory-reporting laws require that the abuse be happening in the jurisdiction of the state the mandatory reporter is in, which is usually not know-able from a photograph unless there are clear landmarks in the image such a window with a distinctive skyline showing in the photo
    * Many if not all state-level US mandatory-reporting laws require that the abuse happened recently enough that the victim is still alive or is still actively being abused, which is also usually not know-able from a photograph unless there are clear indications of "recency" such as last month's new-hot-toy showing up in the photo
    * With image-manipulation being as good as it is, if the image is very-low-quality a person could argue that "I sincerely believed it was a picture of a kid who was NOT being abused that was photo-manipulated to look like he was" or "I sincerely believed this was a foreign photo from decades ago doctored up to look like it was from Chicago last month" and arguably not longer fall under the mandatory-reporting laws.

    By the way, in some US states, practically all adult residents are considered "mandatory reporters" for child abuse, not just those holding certain professional credentials.

    Prediction:

    In a decade or two, when computer can generate images of "people" that are so realistic that even an expert can't tell fact from fiction by just looking at the on-screen image with the naked eye, you will see specific applications of child-porn laws being challenged in courts on a case-by-case basis. The prosecutor's "a reasonable person would believe this was an actual photograph not a computer-generated image" argument will become less and less convincing over time and more and more people accused of child-porn related offenses will either be set free or prosecutors will decline prosecution because the burden of proof on them that it's real is just too high.

    I predict that within my lifetime, countries like the USA whose constitutions protect computer-generated "fake child porn" that doesn't involve real victims will have a sea change:
    1) Almost nobody in those countries will make or knowingly distribute real or suspected-to-be-real child porn (stupid child-raping parents/uncles/caregivers who get their jollies sharing their own "trophy photos" being the major exception)
    2) In order to convict, prosecutors will have a burden to show that either the defendant knew or had some reason to believe the image involved an actual child besides what the image looked like.
    And, sadly,
    3) What real child porn that does circulate will be able to hide in among the mass of fake stuff since nobody will be able to prove it's not fake, emboldening some child-abusers who would otherwise be scared of arrest.

    #1 and #3 will partially cancel each other out, so it's hard to say if there will be a net increase or a net decrease in victimization. My gut says it will be a net decrease.

    These predictions may not come true if courts re-interpret the constitution so the "there must be a real victim in the image (or at least that the defendant believed there was)" idea is no longer a constitutional requirement for conviction. I'm not sure if such a re-interpretation is a good thing or a bad thing. There are good moral arguments on both sides of that question.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Mandatory reporting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your arguments show the current state of the law is still meant to protect the victim more than punish the offender. The sea change youn predict will likely mean that the state of the law will likely change to punish the offender regardless if there was any victim. I think your predictions are likely to pan out. The more corrupt and perverted a society, the more "morality" legislation is introduced. This may seem to not make sense, but I think you will find that a morally conscious society legislates it's morality through the church, whatever that may be, and a corrupt hedonistic society legislates it's morality through the courts instead. For instance, look at all the "sins" that have been "taken off the books" over the last 100 years in america by various churches, even if unofficially.. while over the last 100 years we have seen the introduction of the Harrison act and "sin" llegislation of all kinds. The major purpose of the courts these daysappears to be to enforce victimless crime legistation , where "victimless" crime is meant to describe offenses that do not injure a second party. Perverts getting their jollies off of a completely digital recreation of a juvenile may surely be the most reprehensible of offenses, but there isn't, clearly, any victim involved. Therefore the law MUST be drafted to punish the offender for his predilection only. If you feel this is a good thing why not just go whole hog and support Sharia law?

    2. Re:Mandatory reporting by davidwr · · Score: 1

      1) I thing you mis-read my numbered predictions, unless you were referring to my closing "unless" remark.

      2) Re: Criminalization/de-criminalization of victimless immoral acts: Until the 1970s adultery was a felony in some US states. Until 2003, "gay sex" was a misdemeanor in some states (and possibly still a felony in some, my memory is hazy). In some of the British colonies in what became the USA, sodomy between a man and a man, boy, or male animal was a capital offense for any adult or animal involved. I'm not sure if the same laws applies if the "passive" partner was female and I expect it was legal or as least not a death-sentence offense if the couple was already married.

      --
      Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
  43. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by dgatwood · · Score: 1

    Clearly if you don't log in as that user (assuming the system logs bear that out), then you can't see the user's wallpaper. So presumably you'd be okay.

    With that said... somebody setting child porn as his/her wallpaper? Really? That would take a special kind of stupid.... I mean sure, someone somewhere might do it someday, if only because two things are infinite and all, but....

    And I thought I had a dim view of humanity....

    --

    Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.

  44. Two child-porn articles on /. main page by davidwr · · Score: 1

    That's two more than the number of child-porn images most /. readers will see in a lifetime.

    Well, I hope it is anyways.

    --
    Knowledge is how to play a game, intelligence is how to win, wisdom is knowing what game to play.
    1. Re:Two child-porn articles on /. main page by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's two more than the number of child-porn images most /. readers will see in a lifetime.

      Well, I hope it is anyways.

      Well, most /. readers aren't politicians or Catholic priests...

  45. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by colinrichardday · · Score: 1

    The Green Party people also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    How many Greens are in Congress?

  46. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by sjames · · Score: 1

    You assume that a cop (and/or a DA) who thinks his OS is either Firefox or Internet Explorer will know that and not cause me several really bad days and a stink that won't wash off.

  47. It's worse than it sounds.... by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 2

    It's worse than it sounds....all the comments are about what if you find it, could you be liable, etc etc etc. That's one side of it, but here's the other side of it:

    But what if someone else claims you found child porn on a computer and then says you didn't report it? How do you prove that you didn't find something?

    "He had that laptop for weeks and was digging around in it, looking at all the files and directories...how could he have not seen it? He MUST have seen it but didn't report it..."

    What if someone borrows/steals/buys a PC from you, puts child porn on there and then "discovers" it...and then they go, "...it was his PC, how could he have not seen it?"

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
    1. Re:It's worse than it sounds.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's worse than it sounds....all the comments are about what if you find it, could you be liable, etc etc etc. That's one side of it, but here's the other side of it:

      But what if someone else claims you found child porn on a computer and then says you didn't report it? How do you prove that you didn't find something?

      "He had that laptop for weeks and was digging around in it, looking at all the files and directories...how could he have not seen it? He MUST have seen it but didn't report it..."

      What if someone borrows/steals/buys a PC from you, puts child porn on there and then "discovers" it...and then they go, "...it was his PC, how could he have not seen it?"

      Here's the THIRD side. Suppose someone wants to ruin a political opponent, or wore, discredit a whistleblower. Given a good hack, they can upload images to their victim's computer and now they can be absolutely *certain* the images will be found. Whereas previously such an operation would be "hit or miss" , now the "bullet" would always hit it's target.

  48. I can string 8 words together... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...that would constitute CP according to current laws. You reading them would make you in violation as well.

    1. Re:I can string 8 words together... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A person can sit alone at a desk and using nothing but an ordinary pencil to draw a picture on a piece of paper, and be in violation of federal laws that carry lifelong penalties, ruin one's reputation, and invite vigilantism.

      Ordinary, morally upright humans are fucking dangerous.

    2. Re:I can string 8 words together... by MooseTick · · Score: 1

      That is not true in the US. There must be an identified victim.

      Now on the other hand, you could write a paragraph of how you "plan" to commit a crime that you really have no intention of carrying out. That could be construed as conspiracy and you could be placed in jail for life for such an action. Or shipped to Cuba as an enemy combatant and not even see a trial.

  49. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Boot up with a Linux CD, mount root as read only. No access timestamps then, and also no pwd required.
    By the way any semi-capable person hiding something will take care to wipe out (overwrite with zeros) such stuff in the drive before handing it out for repairs.

  50. Re: How big is this problem? - pretty big actually by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    most It people that come across child porn usually just copy it and say nothing. Often they use other computers at their workplace to store their child porn to avoid getting caught with it.

    Don't be a sheep and get taken in by them. Learn their code words and recognize when they are making you their mule/patsy. Ever hear an IT guy saying he has to put your computer "on the domain"? That's just perv-speak for saying they are going to load it up with child porn.

  51. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ted Nugent. He's all but admitted to it and he's the GOP's hero.

  52. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by TWX · · Score: 1

    You assume that a cop (and/or a DA) who thinks his OS is either Firefox or Internet Explorer will know that and not cause me several really bad days and a stink that won't wash off.

    It has been rumored that during the Casey Anthony investigation and trial, the investigating authorities only submitted evidence of web-browsing history from Internet Explorer, and that there was only very minimal circumstantial evidence of searching for things that could be interpreted as criminal. After the trial and acquittal, supposedly, it was able to be demonstrated that evidence of browser history for Firefox existed that showed someone used the computer to search for techniques to dispose of a body, which was apparently not part of the Prosecution's case. With our Double Jeopardy laws unless it can be demonstrated that there was some kind of intentional illegal act on the part of law enforcement or prosecution it would not be possible to re-prosecute Anthony based on this omitted evidence.

    That was a very high-profile murder trial, and if this rumor is accurate then they couldn't even get it right when it's literally a capital case with probably a significant budget for the investigation then I don't know that we can rely on them to get computer forensics right in other circumstances.

    --
    Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
  53. Child pornography is not a thought crime. by westlake · · Score: 1

    Maybe they don't like the concept of thoughtcrime.

    It is again rather a pity that Orwell didn't live long enough to see the geek in full flight.

    The crime is defined as the possession of child pornography. That is an act not a thought.

    1. Re:Child pornography is not a thought crime. by SuricouRaven · · Score: 1

      Technical limitations. If someone invented a reliable and affordable brain scanner that could detect any sexual thoughts, it would only be a matter of time before the mind probe becomes mandatory for anyone who works near children.

    2. Re:Child pornography is not a thought crime. by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      Technical limitations. If someone invented a reliable and affordable brain scanner that could detect any sexual thoughts, it would only be a matter of time before the mind probe becomes mandatory for anyone who works near children.

      That's science fiction and has no bearing at all on today's reality.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
  54. More laws that are not necessary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And this is why the US has more laws on the books than all the other countries of the world combined. This kind of crap is totally unnecessary as the law already states that YOU MUST report ALL evidence of illegal activity to the police. Regardless of what kind of crime it is. This is just grandstanding by an ambitious politician to get his name in the paper. If you discover evidence of child porn, or money laundering, or ANYTHING ILLEGAL you are already REQUIRED BY LAW to report it!

  55. Re:virus / malware / disk / etc scaning software c by Dog-Cow · · Score: 1

    You assume "sensible" and "computer expert" are the same set. They are not.

  56. Obligatory Archer Quote by tehlinux · · Score: 1

    What, do you not?!

    --
    Most linux users don't know this, but the man pages were named after Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris fsck'ing hates noobs!
  57. Protection not threats by Martin+S. · · Score: 1

    This highlights the need for protection for those making the discovery and reporting and not adding threats from another source.

    In my experience the worst offenders for b

  58. Re:better yet, require congress critters to report by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The GOP leadership allowed Florida's Mark Foley to chase Capital teenage Male Pages. They did NOTHING about it.

    The Democrats also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    The Green Party people also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    The independents also allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    In other words, people, regardless of party, allowed him to, and they did NOTHING about it.

    That hack tlambert allowed it too.

  59. Systems into ruin hurl'd... by Alypius · · Score: 1

    Remember, kids, we have a legal system, not a justice system.

  60. So what is next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That service people are *required* to search your files every time you have your PC in for service, or call someone out on site?

  61. that brings up an interesting question by raymorris · · Score: 1

    > Those who use such a law as a tool for revenge or false incrimination or gaining the upper hand on political rivals or discrediting whistleblowers should be prosecuted 10X more severely than the holders (but not producers) of the "pornography" whether actual or perceived.

    A FALSE accusation is obviously wrong. Heck, "thou shalt not bear false witness" is one of THE ten rules.

    Further, I find that when I think I'm doing the right thing, it is often helpful to check my motives. On the other hand, you say reporting it to "gain the upper hand on political rivals" is ten times as bad as doing it. So if the Clinton campaign found out that Bernie Sanders is big into buying child porn, and they didn't sweep it under the rug, Clinton would be more guilty for reporting it than Sanders is for buying child porn? I'm not so sure.

  62. Useless by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How exactly does one go about proving they saw it and didn't report it? Human decency would handle 99% of this.

  63. Re:"The Utah bill would require computer technicia by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Not only that, define a "computer". Is an iPhone a computer?

    To be simple - anything capable of storing porn in the form of "digital files". So yes, an iphone, camera or whatever is a computer.

  64. If you are STUPID by p51d007 · · Score: 1

    enough, to take your computer in for repair, and have kiddie porn on it, then you deserve what you get!

  65. Cowardly legislators.. by doccus · · Score: 1

    IT workers routinely do this anyways. What this simply does is punish the computer techs instead of the sex offenders. Now EVERY tech is required to "snoop" through ALL the personal files of every client they get, in order to protect themselves. That's EVERY personal file, Mr Politician!. Including that date rape case of yours you hush hushed away before you won the byelection. Or that iffy financial deal you made that could have cost you the nomination. Or... get the drift yet? Sometimes I think politicians are filled with shit for brains if they actually support ths!

  66. Where the cops now? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Um. No.

  67. This is why you should be active by ToddInSF · · Score: 1

    in your local and state politics.

    It's not my job to decide what is and is not child pornography. It's not my job to make ANY determination about the content clients have.

    Cute pictures of a clients own young children that were once considered normal are now considered pornographic. Cartoons can even be considered "child pornography". Back when people actually took film to get it developed people were arrested for art deemed "pornographic". Legislators and politicians that seek to make me complicit in their crimes do not have my respect or support. They are the enemy.

    Journalists once scrutinized unpopular issues, but not so much any longer. Yea, child pornography exists, but it's not something I want anything to do with, no matter how much you might try and force me to. I'm all for people who hurt and exploit ids being prosecuted. I'm also all for Prosecutors and cops and DA's that railroad people who have done nothing wrong and using them to further their own careers being permanently barred from public service after being prosecuted and imprisoned for abusing their power and authority. We let too many crooks and liars have too much control int his country.

  68. HIPPA by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    HIPPA is misunderstood. There is a requirement of any health care provider (I'm one) to inform patients how their data may be used and who has access to it. There are requirement to prevent unauthorized access to patient data, such as from computer security breeches. However, the provider, like me, is perfectly within his or her rights to inform patients that they may sell their data, that they, the provider, may share it with billing companies, that incidental access by IT people may occur, etc, etc. HIPPA requires the providers to inform the patient how they, the provider will use and spread it around. It does not spell out much in the way a provider may use or spread it around, only that the patient must be informed.
    That said, a provider who informs patients they will be spreading around patient information willy nilly and then does so is a fool.
    BTW, 99.99% of patients sign the HIPPA notification form without reading it (9 pages of small type). Like frogs will jump out of hot water but not slowly boiled water (is that real).
    Except after Snowden. One Snowden effect: prior to Snowden's revelations 90% of patients provided an email address for minor, mostly appointment and administrative use. For 6 months after Snowden, it flpped to 100% did not give an email address. Even still 10% of their own accord, (it's not required) write thing like 'decline to give' or "I don't want emails."
    I'm actually glad; otherwise I could spend 20-60 hours week dealing with patient emails.

  69. Turning in your neighbors by villageelder1 · · Score: 1

    Are we also required to report on our neighbors who are Jewish circa 1930's Nazi Germany?

  70. I Got Someone Fired for Porn at Work by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'm an IT worker(Systems Administration) in Utah. I got someone fired for surfing porn at work.

    Several years ago I was working for a company, and I was looking at the logs from the firewall and web traffic. I noticed some strange things, and showed a co-worker. After doing more investigation I was pretty confident the employee in question was surfing porn at work. And he did have an office with the blinds drawn most of the time...

    I spoke with my boss about this, and he looked at the IE cache and saw the evidence... Exactly what flavor of porn it was I never found out. But the employee, who always had his Book of Mormon placed obviously on his desk, was let go a few days later.

    I have to admit I had mixed feelings about this. I never wanted to be "Big Brother" and monitor what people did on the web at work. Also, I never had problems with the employee, I actually felt sorry for him, that he couldn't control his behavior. But I had to let people know, otherwise it would have been my reputation on the line for allowing it to continue, etc, etc.

    When I've related this story to people I've had mixed reactions, from "good job!" to "What?!? why did you do that?!?

  71. requires knowledge + encouragement. Remind you by raymorris · · Score: 1

    I am now reminding you that child porn is a serious felony.
    Are you saying I'm an accessory to your possession of child porn?

    The USC accessory statute requires three things for a person to be an accessory:
    Knowledge of the criminal conduct.
    Encouraging or assisting the conduct.
    Mens rea (guilty intent)

    I don't have knowledge that you've done anything illegal. The Lupe case I cited reminds us that I still wouldn't know if I had seen you in possession of -questionable- material.

    Reminding someone that it is a serious felony is DISCOURAGING the conduct, precisely the opposite of what defines am accessory.

    Mens rea is perhaps best illustrated by an example. It was unlawful in a certain state to have sex with a teenager under a certain age (16, I think) - even if both parties were the same age. A doctor prescribed birth to a fifteen year old. Ruling: although the doctor knew that his action would facilitate unlawful activity, his intent was to protect the patient from unwanted pregnancy. No guilty intent, therefore he was not an accessory. Although some criminal acts don't require mens rea, accessory always does.

    1. Re:requires knowledge + encouragement. Remind you by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      I am now reminding you that child porn is a serious felony.
      Are you saying I'm an accessory to your possession of child porn?

      The USC accessory statute requires three things for a person to be an accessory:
      Knowledge of the criminal conduct.
      Encouraging or assisting the conduct.
      Mens rea (guilty intent)

      I don't have knowledge that you've done anything illegal. The Lupe case I cited reminds us that I still wouldn't know if I had seen you in possession of -questionable- material.

      Reminding someone that it is a serious felony is DISCOURAGING the conduct, precisely the opposite of what defines am accessory.

      Mens rea is perhaps best illustrated by an example. It was unlawful in a certain state to have sex with a teenager under a certain age (16, I think) - even if both parties were the same age. A doctor prescribed birth to a fifteen year old. Ruling: although the doctor knew that his action would facilitate unlawful activity, his intent was to protect the patient from unwanted pregnancy. No guilty intent, therefore he was not an accessory. Although some criminal acts don't require mens rea, accessory always does.

      By telling them you are:
      1) You demonstrate that you are aware of their criminal conduct in that you would not be warning them if you had not seen something worth warning them about. It's just not the kind of thing you tell random customers for no good reason.
      2) Assisting them in that you are telling them to be more careful not to get caught (it can be seen this way regardless of your intent)
      3) Guilty intent will be assumed based on (2); it will be for you to prove otherwise (regardless of who the burden of proof should be on)

      So yes, you are setting yourself up as an accessory if you tell them.

      Even if I'm wrong you're going to (a) spend a lot of time trying to prove yourself innocent and (b) end up with a stigma that you're going to have trouble getting rid of.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial
  72. birth CONTROL, of course, not birth by raymorris · · Score: 1

    My post was missing a word. The doctor prescribed birth control for the 15 year old. Because there was no criminal intent on his part, he was not an accessory.

    1. Re:birth CONTROL, of course, not birth by sociocapitalist · · Score: 1

      Yes I figured it out thanks - I forgot to close my italics after one word so we'll call it even.

      --
      blindly antisocialist = antisocial