From telstar@wired.com
Date: Mon, 6 May 1996 17:40:03 -0700
Subject: FLASH: FBI Reviewing CompuServe "Indecency"

Brace yourselves: The Department of Justice has entered into an unholy cabal with the American Family Association.

A few weeks back I told you how religious fundamentalists from the American Family Association wrote a letter to Attorney General Janet Reno citing CompuServe for "potential violations of the Communications Decency Act."

Now, as it turns out, the AFA has found a friend in President Clinton's Department of Justice. As you'll read below, the AFA's letter was passed along to Terry R. Lord, Acting Chief of the DoJ's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

Lord, in turn, referred the matter to the FBI "for further review."

Lord goes on to say, "With the passage of the CDA in 1996, we are turning our attention to the distribution of indecency on the Internet... While current litigation on the constitutionality of the CDA precludes certain actions until the matter is resolved, rest assured that we will pursue all other available options."

The cyberporn witch hunt is indeed gathering steam, DESPITE the Temporary Restraining Order issued by U.S. District Judge Ronald L. Buckwalter in February, blocking enforcement of the "indecency" provisions of CDA.

Spread the word!

--Todd Lappin--> Section Editor WIRED Magazine =========================================

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American Family Association

Washington D.C. Office

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Patrick A. Trueman
(202) 544-0061

AFA Lauds Justice Department for Computer Porn Investigation
CompuServe/H&R Block Complaint Referred to FBI


For Immediate Release                          Thursday, May 2, 1996

The Justice Department has referred a complaint filed by the American
Family Association against H&R Block and CompuServe, a division of H&R
Block, to the FBI for review of possible violations of the Communications
Decency Act.  The AFA had alleged in an April 1, 1996 letter to Attorney
General Janet Reno that H&R Block/CompuServe violated the CDA by offering
pornography and other sexually oriented material on it on-line service to
its users, including children.  The FBI's involvement in this matter was
confirmed in a recent letter from Terry R. Lord, Acting Chief of the
Justice Department's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, in a letter
to AFA's Patrick Trueman, who filed the complaint.  (A copy of this letter
is attached, below.)

Trueman lauded Attorney General Reno for taking quick action to investigate
H&R Block/CompuServe.  "Every day that pornography is available on
CompuServe more and more children will be harmed," said Trueman.

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U.S. Department of Justice
Criminal Division

Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section

310 Washington Center
1001 G Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20530
(202) 514-5760, FAX: 202-514-1793

April 29, 1996

Dear Mr. Trueman:

Your letters, dated April 1, and April 12, 1996, to Attorney General Reno
concerning potential violations of the Communications Decency Act (CDA) by
CompuServe, a division of H&R Block, Inc., has been forwarded to the Child
Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), and we are happy to respond.

CEOS has referred your letter and accompanying materials to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation for further review.  As you well know, the Section
has overseen and personally conducted prosecutions of individuals and
companies for the distribution of child pornography and obscenity via
computer, and we have been very successful in this effort.  Unfortunately,
even as prosecutions and investigations continue, individuals are
constantly looking for loopholes or alternative methods of distributing
illegal material or ways to harm children.  Therefore, we are constantly,
and with the aid of federal law enforcement agents, reviewing the current
state of this activity to determine the best methods of identifying,
investigating, and prosecuting violators with the goal of deterring similar
conduct.  Your information regarding CompuServe is helpful in this regard
and we appreciate your bringing it to our attention.

With the passage of the CDA in 1996, we are turning our attention to the
distribution of indecency on the Internet.  As you correctly point out, the
distribution of these materials has a deleterious effect on minors.  While
current litigation on the constitutionality of the CDA precludes certain
actions until the matter is resolved, rest assured that we will pursue all
other available options.

Please feel free to refer any additional information which you consider
relevant to this issue directly to us.  We will review and forward it to
the appropriate federal investigative agency.  We hope this information is
useful and we applaud your efforts on behalf of children and families.

Sincerely,


Terry R. Lord
Acting Chief

###

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