IN THE NEWS: Bill by Staten Island's Lanza to close loophole on internet child porn signed into law

Published: Monday, September 10, 2012 by Judy Randall

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A bill to strengthen the law against internet access to child pornography, co-sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Lanza, has been signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The new law makes it a Class E felony to knowingly access the internet for the purpose of viewing child pornography, and states that such lewd images can never be legally possessed in New York state.

The legislation closes a loophole in the penal law, which stated that if an individual viewed child pornography on a website where the images become automatically embedded in the computer, the individual does not possess it.

"Sexual predators shouldn't be able to skate through loopholes," said Lanza (R-Staten Island). "I was proud to vote for this legislation, which will protect our children from predators and keep New York's laws up to date in today's world of constantly evolving technology."

Lanza co-sponsored the bill with state Sen. Marty Golden (R-Brooklyn).

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