Bill to Reduce Child Computer Porn Now Law

A bill to help bring computer child pornographers to justice is now part of Oklahoma law. Sen. Cliff Branan, R-OKC, is principal author of SB 513, which was signed by Gov. Brad Henry yesterday. The House author of the measure is Rep. Ken Miller, R-Edmond.

“I believe this is an important step in helping stop the sexual exploitation of children through the Internet. These shocking images are evidence of a terrible crime. This bill gives law enforcement an important tool in their efforts to go after these criminals,” Branan said.

The legislation is similar to an Oklahoma law requiring photo labs to report child porn pictures they find while processing film. Under SB 513, professional computer technicians who accidentally happen upon child porn while repairing a computer would then report those images to the police.

“We’ve made it clear we’re not talking about the proverbial baby on the bearskin rug photos many parents take of their children. What we’re talking about are graphic sexual images of children,” Branan explained.

Sen. Branan said there is no mandate requiring the computer technicians to mine or search for the images—it simply requires them to report any child pornography images they run across in the course of servicing the computer. The new law takes effect immediately.