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STATEMENT
FROM NCMEC PRESIDENT AND CEO ERNIE ALLEN IN RESPONSE TO THE CHILD ONLINE
PROTECTION ACT (COPA) BLOCKED BY THE SUPREME COURT
"For many years the National Center for Missing & Exploited
Children (NCMEC) has expressed concern about the growing problem of children
being exposed to adult pornography on the Internet. While NCMEC's primary
area of focus is illegal child pornography, NCMEC supports efforts to
protect children from content from which they would be insulated in the
physical world. In fact, NCMEC's own research found that 1 in 4 children
who are regular Internet users are exposed to unsolicited sexual material
online. This is a problem that touches millions of children.
Recently, the US Department of Justice requested that NCMEC's CyberTipline
(www.cybertipline.com) begin handling reports from the public of unsolicited
obscene material sent to children online and misleading domain names used
to trap children into adult-oriented sites and content. NCMEC has already
received more than 2,000 such reports from the public, leading to several
successful prosecutions.
The Court noted the possibility that advances in technology could make
it possible to better protect children without intruding on the rights
of adults. NCMEC is skeptical. Filters and blocking software are not enough.
Clearly, more must be done. It is not enough just to implore parents to
become more vigilant, though every family must become more alert and aware.
Every American should know about NCMEC's CyberTipline and report their
concerns. The effort must continue to refine laws like the Child Online
Protection Act ("COPA") or enact new laws which can meet constitutional
muster. And those who are misusing the Internet for unlawful purposes
must be brought to justice."
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