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On Thu, 6 Apr 1995, Stephen Bates wrote:

>    Do you have any evidence for the following?  It's a topic I've been 
> writing about lately.  Thanks a lot.
> 
> > Believe it or not, the FBI sponsors several news-groups and mailing lists 
> > to catch distributors and consumers of kiddie porn on the internet.

About a year ago, there were several articles in the Print Media about an 
FBI Sting operation which resulted in the prosecution of several 
pedophiles.  The leads were generated through alt.sex.pedophilia or some 
such newsgroup.  The alt.sex.* groups where quite concerned about the 
possibility that they would be next.  There are frequent warnings against 
prostitution via the newsgroups.  Attempts at prostitution and 
"fantasy-email for pay" have been exposed by newsgroup members.  The 
perpetrators usually disappear within a few days.  The internet is 
effectively self-enforcing.  If a "please send e-mail" ultimately leads 
to a prostitution or blackmail attempt, the original offer is followed up 
with a "RE: FOR $$$ SCAM" notification.  This effectively kills 
interest of those who would otherwise be duped, and raises the issue to 
appropriate law enforcement groups.

>    Stephen Bates, Senior Fellow
>    Annenberg Washington Program in Communications Policy Studies

	Rex Ballard


From rballard@cnj.digex.net Tue Apr 18 12:19:05 1995
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