ASCAP wants to label you

[gonzo]

Los Angeles, CA (June 26, 2006) – The Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) has activated an “Online Town Hall” located at www.asacp.org/townhall to open up the topic of self-labeling by adult sites for broad discussion, and to get feedback from all adult companies on this increasingly urgent topic.

At least two recently introduced Senate Bills (S3499 - the Internet Safety Act, and S3432 - the Project Safe Childhood Act) would require adult websites to label all pages featuring adult content or face stiff prison terms. The bills may face political and legal hurdles, and mandatory self-labeling by adult sites may or may not become federal law. However, according to ASACP’s Executive Director Joan Irvine, “No matter what happens, broad voluntary acceptance of self-labeling could help protect children online – and demonstrate the adult industry’s practical commitment to preventing children from viewing adult content.”

The ASACP Online Town Hall site features information about site labeling, plus a discussion forum where professionals throughout the adult industry can begin discussing the topic.

“ASACP represents the combined efforts of many adult companies when it comes to protecting children from adult material,” noted Irvine. “ASACP has stepped up on this issue, and will facilitate an industry-wide discussion. We’ve also been approached by both adult and mainstream companies about possibly helping to establish a new 18+ label, so we definitely want to hear back from the industry that has supported us for so long before proceeding in that direction.”

In addition to the Online Town Hall site, ASACP will help organize and participate in discussions related to self-labeling at upcoming adult industry conferences, including a panel at the XBiz Summer Forum and a session at Internext Summer.

Founded in 1996, the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating child pornography from the Internet. ASACP battles child pornography through its CP reporting hotline, and by organizing the efforts of the online adult industry to combat the heinous crime of child sexual abuse.