New Law Closes Loophole for child porn investigations

[Guest Dwight C]

 

New law closing loophole regarding child porn and abuse investigations

It will soon be harder for child pornographers and abusers to know their internet activities are being investigated by law enforcement. A new law taking effect October 1 will keep internet providers from tipping off suspected perps.

It is the irony of all ironies. Big internet providers and cloud storage services find porn or child abuse, then tip off police.

“And then, before we could start delving into it, they [the ISP] would notify the perps because they were worried about being sued and stuff," said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey.

It was his investigators who discovered and fought to close the loophole that allowed ISPs to contact their customers under investigation.

“There’s going to be evidence that’s preserved as a result. Potentially victims will be saved as a result because come of these people actually have victims in their homes," said Sheriff Ivey.

Clearwater Representative Chris Latvala told us in February the loophole was motivated by greed.

“These companies are more concerned with their trade secrets or their products than they are doing the right thing,” said.

The Law enforcement task force members who discovered the loophole were honored at this year's Missing Children’s Day. Donna Uzell from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced their award.

“The innovative and persistent work has resulted in a significant ongoing contribution to the safety of countless children," Uzell said.

We interviewed Sheriff Ivey after he just finished talking to his agents.

“I was just telling them as we were taking the picture, I was telling them, 'Each and every day you guys do amazing things. But what you’ve done here will save the lives of innocent children for decades and decades to come,'" he said.

Under the new law, internet providers can’t tell a perp they’re being investigated for 90 days. If police need more time, they can have that delay extended in 90-day increments.

The legislation is such a no-brainer, it received a unanimous vote every step of the legislative process.