Child protection organizations and 47 attorneys general are calling for a change to a law they say prevents state and local authorities from prosecuting internet child sex traffickers.
The International Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent a letter to Congress last week urging a change in this law, just days before the FBI’s Operation Cross Country led to the arrest of more than 150 alleged pimps and the rescue of more than 100 children nationwide. The FBI acted in concert with local authorities.
The Center and the 47 attorneys general say the federal resources to combat child exploitation online are limited, and a two-word change to a key law could allow local authorities to better help. It would give local authorities jurisdiction where only federal authorities currently have the power to act.
The letter asks congress to make the following change to 47 U.S.C. 230(3)(1)—the two-word addition is in bold type:
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair the enforcement of section 223 or 231 of this title, chapter 71 (relating to obscenity) or 110 (relating to sexual exploitation of children) of Title 18, or any other Federal or State criminal statute.”
