Adults whose images have been used for child pornography on the Internet will be allowed to sue for damages under bipartisan legislaton recently introduced in the Senate, according to the Washington Times.
The bill is dubbed “Masha’s Law” for a Russian orphan, who was adopted by an American pedophile. According to the newspaper, her adoptive father started sexually abusing her the first night she spent with him and immediately sharing hundreds of pictures of her on the Internet.
The Washington Times reports her images still remain on the Internet.
“It’s really sad statement that we have tougher penalties for downloading music than for downloading sick images of infants and children,” said the bill’s author, Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.).
"What happened to Masha was a terrible tragedy that should never be repeated," said bill co-sponsor Sen. Johnny Isakson, a Georgia Republican. "Unfortunately, reminders of her horrific ordeal remain posted on the Internet for all to see every day."
This bill would boost civil damages from $50,000 to $150,000.
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