Child erotica

Child erotica refers to any non-nude or semi-nude photographs and videos of teens or preteens, usually girls, in sexually suggestive poses,^[1] mostly distributed over the internet and presented in a fashion similar to non-erotic child modeling. Erotic child modeling websites feature children modeling variety of clothing types, including dresses, bikinis, nightgowns, or undergarments. Child erotica may include in addition to images other materials that may cause sexual arousal in pedophiles, such as children's diaries, drawings, underwear, letters, and other similar items. ^[2] Law enforcement investigators have found that child erotica is often collected by pedophiles and child sexual abuse offenders.^[1] It considered by some legal systems to be a form of child pornography.^[3]

Child modeling web sites

Almost all internet child modeling centers around web sites that display model series or portfolios. The sites almost always present children as fashion models for hire. In fact, all of a model's income typically comes from membership subscriptions to the web sites displaying their photos. Subscription prices usually range from US$20 to 30 per month. In 2002, the PJCrew site was reported to bring in a net income of US$7,000 to 10,000 a month. At the time it was shut down, A Little Agency had an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 patrons who paid $22 monthly to view their photos.^[4] One of their models was paid $17,000 by the agency for three months work. ^[5]

Legal issues in the United States

Depictions of even a clothed child violate U.S. federal law (18 U.S.C. §§ 2252(a)(2), (4) and 2256(2)(E)) if they constitute "lascivious" exhibitions of the genitalia or pubic area.^[6] The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has defined "lascivious" as "tending to excite lust; lewd; indecent; obscene; sexual impurity; tending to deprave the morals in respect to sexual relations."

In the United States, some members of the Congress have proposed prohibiting certain child modeling sites. Some states are considering similar legislation.^[7] Opponents of such legislation argue that it would probably be ruled to violate the first amendment to the US constitution.

Webe Web

In July 2001, Wired News published a story^[8] about child modeling web sites that described Lil' Amber and Jessi the Kid, which were websites operated by the web hosting company Webe Web Corporation located in Florida. Webe Web was, at the time, the oldest child modeling site service on the Internet.

In November 2001, the NBC television station serving Miami, FL, ran a story entitled "Selling Innocence." A reporter "went undercover" to contact the site operators, and then tracked down Amber (a pseudonym), the model featured in Lil' Amber, at her family's farm in Palm Beach County. The news report prompted Florida Congressman Mark Foley (R-Palm Beach County) to propose legislation banning child modeling web sites.^[9]

On November 28, 2006, criminal charges were laid against the owners of Webe Web Corporation. Immediately all Webe Web child model sites went offline. Jeff Pierson pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy and mailing, transporting or shipping child pornography ^[10], while the owners of the web hosting company, Marc Evan Greenberg and Jeff Libman, pleaded not guilty.

Many of the parents claimed to be unaware of the images being taken of their children, and some had signed over temporary legal custody of their child to Pierson during the modeling session. ^[10]

A Little Agency

In early 2006 the operators of the child modeling agencies "A Little Agency" and "The VMS," Matthew Duhamel and Charles Granere, were arrested on charges of child pornography. Neither A Little Agency nor the VMS distributed nude photographs. However, federal prosecutors argued that they still contained "lascivious exhibitions" of the genitalia. ^[11]

Federal prosecutors claimed their Web site dealt in images of 9- and 10-year-old girls wearing scant clothing in suggestive poses. One photo reportedly shows a 9-year-old girl in "black stiletto pumps, a black lace thong, black bra, and a black jacket" sitting on a dining room table, according to court records.

Granere and Duhamel were indicted of transporting child pornography, possession of child pornography and receipt of child pornography.^[12] Both plead not guilty.

Charles Granere filed a motion to dismiss the charges against them ^[13], arguing a Web site they operated that contained pictures of young girls in suggestive poses does not rise to the level of pornography. However, the judge assigned to the case denied the motion to dismiss, noting that the U.S. Supreme Court has determined fully clothed pictures can be considered pornographic.^[3]

Duhamel was convicted after a bench trial of charges of transporting, receiving and possessing child pornography. Granere pleaded guilty to one count of transportation of child pornography as part of a plea bargain. Both were sentenced to five years in federal prison. ^[4] In 2008, Granere had his sentence cut to 30 months, by recommendation of the government.^[3]

Legal issues in other countries

Japan

The Japanese Law Banning Child Prostitution and Pornography, enacted in 1999, defines child pornography as any image of a child under 18 years old "naked or partially naked, which is sexually stimulating."

Although Japan has slowly been implementing legal measures against child pornography, some say the ambiance, culture and religion of the country makes people less uncomfortable about such issues compared with Western societies.

In Japan, DVDs and photo books of scantly clothed children, commonly known as Junior Idols, are sold right next to hard-core pornography. Reports suggest that more than 3 million such photo books were sold in 2006 alone.

The Publishers Ethics Committee of the Japan Magazine Publishers' Association checks bookstores for inappropriate publications and has issued warnings to publishers of pornographic comic books. However, committee members have said it is not easy to determine when an image crosses the line from art to child pornography. ^[14]

See also

• Child modeling

References

Sources

• Betsy Cameron, Lisanne: A Young Model, 1979: Clarkson N. Potter.
• H.R. 1142, 109th Congress, 1st Session, Child Modeling Exploitation Prevention Act, March 8, 2005.
• Mike Brunker, "Legal child porn under fire" MSNBC report, March 28, 2002.
• Mike Brunker, "Young 'model' sites feel the heat: Porn, sexual exploitation charges leveled against 3 operators", MSNBC, July 11, 2002.
• The PJCrew Story.
• Julia Scheeres, "Girl Model Sites Crossing Line?", Wired News, July 23, 2001.
• Selling Innocence NBC 6 investigative report Part 1 November 8, 2001; Part 2 November 9, 2001.
• Selling Innocence NBC 6 followup: "Child Modeling Web Site Owner Held On Child Porn Charges; Congressmen Seeking Legislation To Prevent Child Exploitation On The Net" Posted April 18, 2002; updated May 17, 2002.
• Selling Innocence TV movie IMDB entry