Government Utilized Computer Software Leads to Many Sex Crimes Charges

What You Need to Know About Big Brother Watching.

The Child Protection System is software used by law enforcement agencies, to track the IP addresses of computers suspected of downloading illegal images or videos of prepubescent children. However, the system’s use has prompted numerous privacy concerns. If you have been charged with possession of child pornography as a result of this system that is contested by civil liberties experts and forensic experts alike, it is paramount to seek the aid of experienced legal counsel. An experienced criminal defense attorney will know how to challenge the efforts of law enforcement to ensnare people, many of whom are innocent. The consequences of a computer sex crimes conviction (in Wisconsin) are steep.

What Is The Child Protection System?

The Child Protection System software is given to law enforcement agencies for free and is used by investigators in all 50 states. The software scans chatrooms and file-sharing mediums in order to track IP addresses of computers suspected of downloading illegal images or videos of children under the age of 12. Typically, the information provided by the system is not enough for an arrest to occur. However, it can be used to establish probable cause for a search warrant. Once probable cause is established, officers are able to seize a device for further analysis.  

Officers may search by county, city, country or state in order to locate a list of internet addresses downloading files that appear to be illegal. Use of The Child Protection System has prompted approximately 12,000 arrests over the past 10 years. The problem has only been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, as people spend a substantial amount of time surfing the internet.

The Child Protection System Presents Numerous Issues

Law enforcement agencies are advocates of the capabilities of the Child Protection System. However, forensic and civil liberties experts doubt its accuracy and raise concerns about the threat it poses to individuals’ rights. Mass surveillance is considered a widely threatening issue.  Also problems have been identified that raise the distinct possibility of the software mistakenly flagging videos or images that are not, in fact, illegal. 

Some prosecutors have decided to drop cases when faced with questions about the details of their use of the software. Other times, the images that the software flagged did not exist on the device when the police seized it during the search warrant. It is also possible for a software’s dataset to be miscategorized or downloaded in an error if it exists in a larger cache of legal pornography.   

Aggressive Computer Sex Crimes Possession of Child Pornography Defense

Prosecutors’ aiming to zealously pursue sex crimes cases should not result in a violation of your rights. If you have been charged with a computer sex crime as a result of the use of The Child Protection System, or if you have been charged with a computer sex crime in any way, contact Birdsall Obear & Associates LLC. Our experienced Sheboygan and Milwaukee defense attorneys have utilized numerous defenses to such a charge, with regard to digital images in particular. We understand that not many charges within the criminal justice system are more daunting than a sexual related charge. Contact us: 920-395-2200 or fill out our online contact form. We defend individuals charged with internet and computer crimes throughout the entire state of Wisconsin.