1977 - The sexual exploitation of
children act (18 U.S.C. 2251-2253) was
enacted. The law prohibits the use of a minor
in the making of pornography, the transport
of a child accross state lines, the taking of
pornographic pictures of a minor, and the
production and circulation of materials
advertising child pornography. It also
prohibits the transfer, sale, purchase, and
receipt and to use the child or youth in the
production, shipment, and receipt of child
pornography by any interstate means,
including by mail or computer, is prohibited.
1988 - November 7. The Child Protection Act
(18 U.S.C. 2251-2255) defines anyone younger
than the age of 18 as a child. Therefor, a
sexually explicit photograph of anyone 17
years of age or younger is Child Pornography.
1988 - November 18. The U.S. Congress enacted
the Child Protection and Obscenity
Enforcement Act (18 U.S.C. 2251-2257) that
made it unlawful to use a computer to
transmit advertisements for or visual
depictions of Child Pornography and it
prohibited the buying, selling, or otherwise
obtaining temorary custody or control of
children for the purpose of producing Child
Pornography.
1990 - November 29. The U.S. Congress enacted
(18 U.S.C.18 2252) making it a FEDERAL
OFFENSE to possess THREE (3) or more
depictions of Child Pornography that were
mailed or shipped in interstate or foreign
commerce or that were produced using
materials that were shiped or mailed by ANY
means, INCLUDING by computer.
1996 - With
the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (18 U.S.C
2422), it is a FEDERAL CRIME for anyone using
mail, interstate or foreign commerce, to
persuade, induce, or entice any individual
under the age of 18 to engage in ANY sexual
act for which the person may be criminally
prosecuted. The Child Pornography Prevention
Act of 1996 amends the definition of Child
Pornography to include that which actually
depicts the sexual conduct of real minor
children (those less than 18 years of age)
and that which appears to be a depiction of a
minor engaging in sexual conduct. Computer,
photographic, and photo-copy technology is
amazingly competent at creating and altering
pictures to be "morphed" to look like
children even though the original depiction
is of an adult.