Protecting children from Internet predators
MARY LOU RATH New York State Senator
The Internet is a tremendous resource that has greatly increased our access to education and information. Unfortunately, as illustrated in recent local cases, sexual predators have made the Internet a potentially dangerous tool that can be used to victimize innocent children.

The Senate has introduced several measures to help combat these predators.

You don't need to watch "To Catch a Predator" on "Dateline NBC" to know that technology has created dangerous opportunities to strike at young people.

Last month, an international child pornography ring based on the Internet was uncovered involving more than 2,360 suspects in 77 countries. The FBI is now investigating approximately 600 of the suspects in the United States.

Also, there has been a dramatic expansion of networking and video-sharing sites such as MySpace.com and YouTube.com, which present additional challenges to parents seeking to monitor their children's activities on the Internet.

Although the possession or distribution of child pornography is illegal under federal law and in all 50 states, law enforcement officials have found these crimes to be increasing at an alarming rate. This is why the Senate has also introduced measures that will: toughen penalties for promoting child prostitution or producing child pornography; crack down on predators in Internet chat rooms; strengthen the sex offender registry; and support training for law enforcement in the area of computer child exploitation.

Legislation I sponsor is specifically aimed at protecting children from predators who attempt to lure or entice them by means of a computer.

Current law does not address the harassment of a child via a computer. As children increasingly use computers for a variety of reasons, all too often they are harassed by predators who use the Internet to initiate sexual encounters.

In one particular case that received national attention, a child's neighbor posted her name and telephone number on a Web site for others to solicit sex from her. My bill makes this crime a serious offense - a class D felony.

Another bill I sponsor addresses a situation that occurred in Western New York two years ago when a man abused a 9-year-old girl, broadcast it on the Internet, and encouraged those viewing to make suggestions on what actions he should take. Although the man who initiated the crime was arrested, those who watched and made online suggestions are just as guilty by actively participating.

In the bill, a person would be guilty of a class D felony if he or she knowingly encourages or aids one or more persons to engage in a sex offense.

Both these measures passed the Senate last year, and I am working to make them law this year.

Protecting our children is one of our most important responsibilities.

These Senate measures represent a comprehensive approach to helping prevent crimes against children and punishing those who prey upon them.