ASACP is a Front Organization for Pornographers

[gonzo]

In a 12,000-word reference piece posted to Morality in Media's www.obscenitycrimes.org website ("Current News"), MIM President Robert Peters examines evidence that the proliferation of "adult pornography" (actual minors not depicted) on the Internet is contributing to sexual abuse of children and to other harms and asserts that the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP) is a front organization for adult pornographers who are "attempting to divert attention from their harmful and often illegal businesses and to portray themselves as responsible corporate citizens."

"The 'adult industry' is not now and never has been a friend of children," he writes.

"Even assuming that individuals associated with ASACP are themselves concerned about the welfare of children, the organization itself serves as a front group for online commercial distributors of 'adult pornography,' and the proliferation of 'adult pornography' on the Internet poses a significant risk to children in a variety of ways, as well as to society.

"Federal and state law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, Internet service providers, credit card companies, banks, and nonprofits are finally working together to curb sexual exploitation of children on the Internet. They are to be commended for doing so.

"For the most part, however, these same government and private entities...turn a blind eye towards the ever-expanding problem of 'adult pornography' on the Internet...Those who fight sexual exploitation of children but turn their backs to the 'adult pornography' problem are making a tragic mistake."

He adds, "I think some government and private entities have not only turned their backs to the 'adult pornography' problem. Increasingly, they are cozying up to the 'adult entertainment industry' as if it were a friend of children."

In his article, Mr. Peters makes the following eight points in support of his assertion that the explosion of "adult pornography" online is contributing to sexual exploitation of children and other harms:

1. Many adults who sexually exploit children display 'adult pornography' to their victims.

2. Many adults who sexually exploit children use 'adult pornography' to arouse themselves.

3. Many adults who violate sexual exploitation of children laws begin their downward spiral by viewing 'adult pornography.'

4. Some adults addicted to 'adult pornography' act out sexually with child prostitutes.

5. Many online distributors of 'adult pornography' market depictions of sex with 'teens.'

6. Addiction to 'adult pornography' destroys marriages and that harms children.

7. ASACP's RTA (Restricted to Adults) labels provide little protection for children from Internet smut.

8. Legitimate governmental interests, in addition to protecting children, are at stake.

In his article, Mr. Peters also responds to arguments that U.S. based online "adult pornographers" are not breaking any laws and that because of limited resources the Justice Department and FBI are right to focus their energies almost exclusively on child molesters and child pornography.

Here are the research citations for the eight points mentioned above (links are provided in the article).

See em at http://www.adultfyi.com/read.php?ID=33859

[Toby]

Consider the source, then ignore.

[DannyCox]

I remember way back when Helmy was running ASACP and it still stood for "Adult Sites Against Child Pornography". He would link to his page from ASACP, and what was one of the first thing you saw?? A banner link for seventeen.nl!! We called him on that, and on the hypocrisy of running something like ASACP and promoting sites that show underage sex. His response?? "Well, it's legal in the Netherlands".

They used to also publish the number of sites they supposedly reported on an ongoing basis. Including reporting to the RCMP in Canada for suspected Canadian Pedophiles. The funny thing is the guy who was heading up that division at the time was a cousin of mine! He had never even heard of ASACP!

Since then, just the mention of ASACP has left a sour taste in my mouth.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by DannyCox

I remember way back when Helmy was running ASACP and it still stood for "Adult Sites Against Child Pornography". He would link to his page from ASACP, and what was one of the first thing you saw?? A banner link for seventeen.nl!! We called him on that, and on the hypocrisy of running something like ASACP and promoting sites that show underage sex. His response?? "Well, it's legal in the Netherlands".

They used to also publish the number of sites they supposedly reported on an ongoing basis. Including reporting to the RCMP in Canada for suspected Canadian Pedophiles. The funny thing is the guy who was heading up that division at the time was a cousin of mine! He had never even heard of ASACP!

Since then, just the mention of ASACP has left a sour taste in my mouth.

Guess the MIM guy just noticed this page...

http://asacp.org/page.php?content=sponsors

[gonzo]

Morality in Media President Robert Peters is at it again, denouncing the evils of adult entertainment and targeting an unlikely organization: the Association of Sites Advocating Child Protection (ASACP).
In a recent 24-page missive entitled "'Adult Industry' Is No Friend of Children or the Family, Despite ASACP Effort to Curb Child Abuse and Label Smut," Peters seeks to minimize the great work done by ASACP to protect children and its proactive response to Congressional demands that the adult industry self-regulate in the form of the Restricted To Adults (RTA) website label.

Peters goes to great lengths in an effort to concoct an association between the legitimate adult entertainment industry and the heinous crime of child sexual abuse, often referring to "pornography" (a legal, constitutionally protected form of expression) as "obscenity" — a term denoting illegal materials — and inferring that there is no distinction between legal materials and illegal imagery depicting children in sexually explicit situations.

Questioning the credibility of the industry at all levels and comparing ASACP to the mafia, Peters neglects to mention that ASACP is likely responsible for more actual CP site closures than any other NGO — all while drawing questionable statistical references and mischaracterizations into the mix.

Socially aberrant behavior is everyone's concern when it hurts children and Peters seems to miss the fact that tens of thousands of people employed in this industry, many of whom have families of their own, do indeed care about child abuse and find repugnant the notion of it being part of their professional lives.

The fact that a child molester also owns legal adult pornography isn't necessarily a cause-and-effect relationship anymore than is the fact that a very large percentage of pedophiles are active members of their church and often involved in youth ministries, 'troubled teen' counseling, and the like. Does this mean that religion or community service inevitably leads to child molestation? According to Peters' logic, the answer would be "yes."

Peters also cites the relatively low penetration of RTA as evidence that adult industry self-regulation is inadequate and calls into question the naming of David Ogden as the new Deputy U.S. Attorney General, given Ogden's support of free speech rights.

http://www.xbiz.com/news/106579

[LAJ]

Danny you gonna be in Phoenix? I would like to buy you a drink.

[DannyCox]

Actually, I wish I could get away! But any travel is out of the question for us for the next while. Just have a drink for me