Atlanta Internet Sex Crimes Defense Attorney
The rise of the Internet over the past couple of decades has created a whole new area of criminal law. The ability for people across the globe to instantly connect has certainly had positive effects. Unfortunately, it has also opened up new opportunities for crime. Identity theft and a whole array of financial scams have become rampant, while chat rooms have served as recruitment centers for hate groups and terrorist cells.
When it comes to sex crimes, most Internet-related offenses involve inappropriate sexual behavior with children. The proliferation of legal online pornography has been accompanied by the production and distribution of child pornography. Chat rooms that connect strangers are utilized by adults seeking inappropriate relationships with children – both online and offline. State and federal governments have responded to these problems by creating new legislation to prohibit and penalize those who sexually exploit minors on the Internet.
Georgia has a series of laws relating to child pornography and sexual exploitation, some of which overlap. These include:
Sexual Exploitation of Children (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100)
The law against sexual exploitation of children prohibits the production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. For more information on this offense, visit our Sexual Exploitation of Children page.
The Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation Act of 2007 (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100.2)
This law, first passed in 1999, prohibits computer or electronic pornography involving children. Similar to the previous law, this statute makes it illegal to produce, distribute, or possess child pornography. It also prohibits using the Internet to solicit a child for sexual acts or to engage in obscene contact with a minor. Finally, it penalizes those who provide electronic or Internet services and knowingly allow their services to be used to sexually exploit children. To learn more about the offenses covered by this law, visit our Computer or Electronic Pornography and Child Exploitation page.
Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material To Minors (O.C.G.A. 16-12-100.1)
Georgia law makes electronically furnishing obscene material to minors a crime. Under this statute, it is illegal to provide any unmarried person under the age of 18 with obscene, sexually explicit material using an electronic device. This law often comes into play in cases of “sexting” in which an adult and a minor exchange explicit texts or photos. For more information on this offense, visit our Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material To Minors page.
Federal Laws on Internet Sex Crimes
In addition to Georgia law, there are many federal laws related to Internet crimes, including child pornography and sexual exploitation. These federal laws include:
Sexual Exploitation of Children (production of child pornography) (18 U.S.C. § 2251)
Selling and Buying Children (18 U.S.C. § 2251A)
Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors (possession, distribution and receipt of child pornography) (18 U.S.C. § 2252)
Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography (18 U.S.C. § 2252A)
Production of sexually explicit depictions of a minor for importation into the United States (18 U.S.C. § 2260)