Bill requires computer techs to report child pornography

HB 2463 requires computer techs to report child pornography.
HB 2463  expands mandatory reporting of child porn with computer technicians requirements.
By Oregon Senate Majority Office,

SALEM – The Senate approved a bill this morning that requires a computer technician who believes that he or she has observed an image of a child involved in sexually explicit conduct to report this observation to appropriate authorities. House Bill 2463 updates Oregon’s statute on mandatory reporting to reflect changing technologies.

“Any observation of child pornography should be immediately reported to authorities,” said Senator Laurie Monnes Anderson (D-Gresham). “Computer technicians have access to all sorts of information on a person’s computer. If they see something suspicious, it must be reported. This requirement will help us prevent the exploitation of children and punish those who support it.”

Oregon’s law on mandatory reporting of child pornography observed through photo or videotape processing was first enacted in 1987. Since then, the technology of producing images, pictures, and movies digitally has made this provision increasingly obsolete. While the use of photo labs to develop photos has declined, personal computers have become central in the production and sharing of child pornography.

Oregon law already includes photo technicians as mandatory reporters. HB 2463 adds computer technicians to mandatory reporters of child pornography and specifies that any observation should be reported to the CyberTipline at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Human Services or local law enforcement.

“The need for this bill is clear and uncontroversial,” said Senator Joanne Verger (D-District 5). “We take the problem of child pornography very seriously and are committed to common sense legislation that will protect our children and punish offenders.”

Earlier this session, the Senate approved SB 803, which was chief sponsored by Monnes Anderson and Verger. That bill was introduced in response to an Oregon Supreme Court ruling that said viewing pornographic images featuring children is not a crime if the images are not paid for, downloaded, or printed out. SB 803 will reverse this ruling. That bill is now in the House.

HB 2463 was introduced in the House by Representative Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis). The bill now goes to the Governor.

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