Former DOJ Prosecutor to Parents: Beware ... Cell Phone Porn Is on the Horizon
by James L. Lambert
May 13, 2005
(AgapePress) - It may be flying under the radar of the mainstream media, but pro-family groups have detected the unmistakable signal that pornographers in America are readying to attack families via what is fast becoming standard equipment for many children and teens: cell phones.Representatives from the American Family Association, Morality in Media, and Family Research Council met recently with members of the Federal Communications Commission to discuss ways to allow consumers to block pornographic digital file transfer information from cell phones.
Pat Trueman, a former prosecutor with the Department of Justice who is now with FRC, attended the meeting on Monday (May 9). According to Trueman, the FCC "is open to suggestions to resolve issues as it relates to this [problem]." In addition, he says, the federal agency "does not have a plan yet that it is seriously considering" to face this new problem of cell phone porn. He noted, however, that it was a "very positive meeting."
Elements of the porn industry have already indicated they are working with selected cell phone companies to provide "digital file transfers" that enable consumers to access porn on their cell phone screens. Advances in technology are providing the ability to move from a crude form of 30-second, moving pictures on cell screens to eventual digital transfers that will allow full moving videos. (See earlier story)
With virtually no blocking devices being presently available to consumers, this presents a frightening reality to most parents of minors. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported on Wednesday that digital porn technology already is available in South America and Europe. One company based in Denver is marketing such software to companies overseas including "pictures of naked women to hard-core porn videos ... to ring tones that would make a sailor blush." While the Colorado company does not directly make adult-oriented products, it is clearly working with elements of the porn industry to incrementally bring this material on line to American consumers. Clint Fayling, representing the Denver-based company, says "Adult content is huge across the board .... what we've learned is that what will work on the Internet will work on the mobile, too."
For now, pornographers are testing the market by using small-market cellular providers instead of going directly to big providers like Sprint, Cingular Wireless, and others.
Bob Peters of Morality in Media, a New York-based non-profit organization, still would like to see government oversight. He believes that "without a law [requiring compliance], how is it going to work?"
The director of special projects for the American Family Association, Randy Sharp, reported earlier this week that several "high-ranking officials" with the FCC met with the family advocates. "[The FCC] realize[s] that this is a potentially serious issue for America's youth," he says, "and they also recognize that only by working together within the FCC and with concerned parents can something be done."
While Trueman believes the FCC wants to be cooperative, he also knows that the porn industry sees this as a "cash cow," considering how big the cellular phone industry numbers are. Ultimately, he says, parents must be aware of this potentially huge problem so that regulators and others know of their concern.
Currently, the government does offer assistance to avoid receiving unwanted phone solicitations through the National Do Not Call Registry. That registry, however, does not effect the governing of "digital file transfers" (i.e., pornographic images to cell phone monitors) these pro-family groups are so concerned about.
James L. Lambert, a frequent contributor to AgapePress, is the author of Porn in America (Huntington House), which can be purchased through the American Family Association. He is a licensed real-estate mortgage loan sales agent and can be contacted through his website.
