Thanks Catherine M. Cameron for sending this in and Osiris for posting this in our Back Page News forum. The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that realistic, computer-generated child porn is protected free speech under the Constitution (What's next? -Ed), and federal prosecutors said an unknown number of cases might be jeopardized.
The court struck down a 1996 federal law that banned virtual child porn and dramatic scenes in which adult actors are depicted as kids having sex.
The court ruled that it's OK to ban the use of real children in pornography, but it's not OK to outlaw the "appearance" of kids engaged in porn.
The 6-3 ruling is a victory for pornographers and moviemakers, but it's a loss for federal prosecutors, who have arrested more than 200 people in a national child-porn sting.
Justice officials say they can't tell in some cases if kids depicted in computer porn images are real or digitalized.
"The United States Supreme Court made our ability to prosecute those who produce and possess child pornography immeasurably more difficult," Attorney General John Ashcroft said in response to the court's decision.
News source: Infobeat - Court Oks Fake-kid Porn
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