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Article: New Law Expanding Legal Definition of Child Pornography Draws Fire
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 4, 1996
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A new law included in the omnibus spending bill in the final
days of the congressional session extends the definition of child
pornography to include images that do not involve children at all,
including movies that use adult actors to portray minors and even
images created on computers.
The Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996 has caused a
furor among civil libertarians and constitutional law professors,
many of whom sharply criticized the bill when it was first proposed
by its sponsor, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah). The law took effect
Monday when President Clinton signed the omnibus spending bill.
The new law outlaws "any visual depiction, including any
photograph, film, video ...