The newest net threat.

AuthorGreenberg, Pam
PositionTRENDS

Sextortion" is the latest troubling trend involving sexually explicit photos or videos and the internet. After acquiring explicit images, sometimes by stealing them through computer hacking, sextortionists use them to blackmail victims into sexual activity or into sending more sexually explicit pictures.

Lawmakers first tackled sexting--when minors send nude photos of themselves to each other, not knowing they could face child pornography charges. About half the states have passed laws that reduce penalties or provide alternative punishments for minors charged with sexting.

Then came nonconsensual pornography, or "revenge porn," when people send or post sexually explicit photographs or videos of former friends without their permission even if they were taken with their consent. State legislators in 35 states and D.C. have passed bills on revenge porn.

Now, the growing number of sexual extortion crimes are catching lawmakers' attention. Research into criminal cases by the Brookings Institution found sextortion to be "surprisingly common" and "brutal." A U.S. Department of Justice report called sextortion "by far the most significantly growing threat to children."

Sextortionists can easily victimize hundreds of people using nothing more than a computer. In one high-profile case, Michael Chansler, a young Florida man, persuaded hundreds of teenage girls in 26 states, Canada and the United Kingdom to send him sexually explicit video of themselves. He then threatened to send the images to the girls' parents or post them online unless they agreed to send additional images. Chansler was convicted under child pornography laws and sentenced to 105 years in prison.

Although these crimes could potentially be prosecuted under a number of current child pornography, cyberstalking or extortion laws, a...

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