LOS ANGELES - The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection has devised a set of steps to help Internet surfers report child pornography without committing crimes themselves in the process.
"When reporting child sexual exploitation, it could be just as important to know what not to do as it is to know what to do in order to not become criminally liable for the possession or distribution of child pornography," ASACP Executive Director Joan Irvine said, adding that "you could be criminally liable for your actions, and this is a situation few are prepared for."
The ASACP advises those who encounter suspected child pornography on the Internet to immediately report it, record the Web address, note details such as the child's age and go to the site of either the ASACP or CyberTipline. A surfer who can identify the child should immediately call a local FBI office, the ASACP said.
Additionally, the ASACP said, the surfer should not download the suspected child pornography, save it, print it or forward it, even to a law-enforcement agency or a hotline. Surfers also should not attempt to research or look for child pornography - even for the purpose of reporting it - or revisit the site for any reason, the group said.
"Any of these activities are illegal, and, regardless of your intentions, you could be legally responsible," Irvine said.
The ASACP, a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating child pornography from the Internet, operates an online hotline for reporting child pornography.
