OTTAWA - The federal government is cracking down on online child pornography with new legislation that imposes stiff fines or jail time for internet service providers that fail to report illicit material involving minors.
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson unveiled details of a bill today that legally requires ISPs to report tips about websites involving child porn and to safeguard evidence if they believe an offence has been committed.
"The creation and distribution of child pornography are appalling crimes in which children are brutally victimized over and over again," Nicholson said.
Proposed fines would range from $1,000 for a first offence to $10,000 and six months in jail for repeat offences for an individual. Corporations could be slapped with fines from $10,000 to $100,000.
Nicholson said some victims are infants and many are young children aged three to five years old. Perpetrators often use sophisticated and international networks to elude detection.
While critics have raised concerns about the intrusion of privacy, Nicholson said the major ISPs are "on board" with the legislation.
OPP Comissioner Julian Fantino said there has been an "explosion" of sexual exploitation of children on the web. He said this bill would give police another tool to track those who commit the "vile" acts.
kathleen.harris@sunmedia.ca
