Potential Consequences of Accessing Child Pornography Over the Internet and Who is Accessing It

It is important that children be protected from the exploitation that is intrinsic to the production of child pornography. It is likewise important that Internet users of all ages be made aware of the extremely dire consequences that they can face should they become involved in accessing it. This br...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sexual addiction & compulsivity 2012-01, Vol.19 (1-2), p.30-40
Main Authors: Berlin, Fred S., Sawyer, Denise
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Child pornography
Children
Exploitation
Families & family life
Fines & penalties
Internet
Internet access
Men
Penalties
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Summary:It is important that children be protected from the exploitation that is intrinsic to the production of child pornography. It is likewise important that Internet users of all ages be made aware of the extremely dire consequences that they can face should they become involved in accessing it. This brief commentary presents a number of short vignettes documenting the tragic disruption in the lives of 5 men and their families (men who had otherwise been law-abiding decent individuals), as a consequence of having accessed child pornography. Some of those who had done so seemed to have been experiencing compulsive urges to act in such a fashion. Finally, this commentary addresses the question of whether the current extremely severe penalties associated with accessing child pornography over the Internet should, at least in some instances, be reconsidered-especially in light of research data suggesting that many of those who have acted in such a fashion may pose little actual risk to the community.
ISSN:1072-0162
2692-9953
1532-5318
2692-9996
DOI:10.1080/10720162.2012.660429