Senator Reveals Plan to Crack Down on Internet Porn

GREAT FALLS, Mont. — As a way to crack down on online sexual predators, Senator Max Baucus wants to tax Internet pornographers, require porn websites use age-verification software and create a cyber crime task force in Great Falls, Montana.

Baucus, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, unveiled his plan to attack cyber crime against children Friday and said he intends to introduce some of the plan, "Cyber Safety for Kids," to Congress in the coming weeks.

His plan outlines ways to regulate adult sites by making users verify that they are over age 18 before entering, requiring that banks and other merchants process only those transactions that are age-verified and imposing a mandatory 25 percent tax on access of adult websites. The plan also calls for establishing the .xxx domain specifically for adult sites, as grouping adult sites should keep kids from mistakenly entering them, Baucus said.

A portion of the tax revenue would pay for a 24-hour cyber tip line and a chunk would go for cyber crime enforcement, Baucus said.

The senator also is looking for federal money to establish a state cyber crime task force in both Great Falls and Missoula. Start-up costs are estimated at $250,000 each, Baucus said.

Unlike Montana's current cyber crime task force in Billings, which consists of only FBI agents, the task force in Great Falls and Missoula would involve local and state law enforcement officers, as well as federal agents.

"You get all these people in the same room ... it can be highly effective," Baucus Spokesman Barrett Kaiser said.

With cyber crime on the rise, finding ways to deal with the problem are not always easy, Scott Cruse, FBI supervisory agent, said.

"This is a crime problem where we will never see the bottom," Cruse said. "It is very assiduous and hard to detect."

Often, collecting child pornography or scouring the Internet for child victims eventually leads to sexual assault, Great Falls attorney John Parker said. He added that targeting cyber crime can prevent more serious offenses from occurring, but that law enforcement relies heavily on parents monitoring their children's computer behavior.

Cruse said most victims are between ages 13 and 17. Baucus added that he hopes his initiatives will make it difficult for sexual predators to take advantage of children, especially children who browse the Internet and enter adult websites accidentally.

Copyright © 2024 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

MojoHost Reaffirms Commitment to Adult Industry Amid Project 2025 Implications

In the wake of Tuesday's election and amid concerns about the possible ramifications for the adult industry, MojoHost President Brad Mitchell has releases a statement addressing Project 2025 and the future of the industy.

Adult Web Hosting Service 'Midnight-Host' Launches

Midnight-Host, a new web hosting service designed specifically for adult websites, has launched.

ASN Lifestyle Magazine Joins Pineapple Support as Media Sponsor

ASN Lifestyle Magazine has joined the ranks of over 60 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support, partnering with the organization as a media sponsor.

Adult Industry Reacts to Trump Victory

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump was reelected, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris to reclaim the office he lost four years ago.

Fetisfy Online Fetish Marketplace Launches

Fetisfy.com, an online marketplace for users to sell fetish items, has launched.

Pineapple Support Launches 'Spill the Tea, Colombia' Community Support Event Series

Pineapple Support has launched "Spill the Tea, Colombia," a monthly, in-person community support event for adult industry professionals.

Streamster Launches 'Tip2Peep' Camera-Switching Feature

Live-streaming software provider Streamster has launched Tip2Peep, a new feature that allows viewers to switch between multiple webcam viewing angles by tipping the creator.

Tyler Wu Guests on Chaturbate's 'Sex Tales' Podcast

Tyler Wu is the latest guest on Chaturbate’s “Sex Tales” podcast, hosted by Melissa Stratton and Vanniall on the company’s “Camming Life” YouTube channel.

Fleshy to Launch Interactive Cam Site 'Eromote'

Male pleasure brand Fleshy has announced that it will launch an interactive, bidirectional cam site next month called Eromote.

XBIZ LA Show Introduces New 'Crib Crawl' Feature

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the 2025 edition of its flagship conference, the XBIZ Show, will debut a brand-new feature: Crib Crawl, offering attendees the chance to meet and greet representatives from leading brands and organizations in dedicated suites at the host venue.

Show More