A recent article in Slate discusses the legal implications of sexting. Sexting is the name for sending nude photos via a cell phone. In a recent case in Greensburg, Pa. three teenage girls were arrested for sexting their boyfriends. The girls were charged with child pornography and the boys with possession. Teenagers participate in this behavior without realizing the potential legal consequences. But there are concerns about applying child pornography laws to this crime. Here's an excerpt from the article:
The argument for hammering every such case seems to be that allowing
nude images of yourself to go public may have serious consequences, so
let's nip it in the bud by charging kids with felonies, which will
assuredly have serious consequences. In the Pennsylvania case, for
instance, a police captain explained that the charges were brought
because "it's very dangerous. Once it's on a cell phone, that cell
phone can be put on the Internet where everyone in the world can get
access to that juvenile picture." The argument that we must prosecute
kids as the producers and purveyors of kiddie porn because they are too
dumb to understand that their seemingly innocent acts can hurt them
goes beyond paternalism. Child pornography laws intended to protect
children should not be used to prosecute and then label children as sex
offenders.
Read the whole article here.
Posted by Jon Lutz
