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Problem with Porn: The Ubiquitous, Nearly Unregulable Access to e-Porn Complicates Fighting Online Porn Addiction and Offender Monitoring

NCJ Number
230115
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 37 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2010 Pages: 18-20,22,24,25
Author(s)
Tabatha Wethal
Date Published
February 2010
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article discusses how the Internet has increased anonymous access to pornography of all types and how the variety of means for accessing the Internet complicates the detection and monitoring of the use of illegal Internet pornography.
Abstract
This article uses an excerpt from an interview with serial killer Ted Bundy that suggests his exposure to pornography depicting sexual violence helped "mold and shape" his sexually violent behavior. Comments are also offered from an acknowledged sex addict obsessed with pornography, including Internet pornography. Although he has never committed a sex crime, he reports that his addiction led to unlawful behavior such as voyeurism and exhibitionism. In describing the growing problem of Internet porn, various estimates of the use of Internet porn and its revenue are reported. New technologies that enable mobile Internet access and the use of portable digital storage devices have not only increased channels for anonymous access to Internet porn but have also increased the difficulty of detecting and monitoring the illegal use of Internet porn. Today's capabilities include wireless technology access and handheld devices. The article notes that although every pornography consumer's story does not reach the level of homicidal criminal acts of a Ted Bundy, sex crime task force specialists believe that online pornography may influence criminal sexual activity in a harmful way.