Child Porn Raids and Internet Censorship
Four men have now committed suicide after being caught up in last week’s investigation into child internet pornography, that has resulted in more than 200 people being arrested and charged. Police launched Australia’s biggest child pornography crackdown on Thursday, raiding 400 premises and arresting hundreds of people, including police, teachers, clergy and a child-care centre owner. While some have expressed surprise at the number of people involved, others say it’s just the tip of the iceberg, and that tougher penalties are required. The public debate has also focussed attention on the current internet censorship laws. Are the current laws strong enough to curb the severe exploitation of children? Dr Michael Flood is a senior research fellow at the Australia Institute and an expert on pornography. He believes the child porn industry is enormous.