CBR: Comics Lead to Child Porn Charges at Canadian Customs

[CBR News]

A U.S. citizen faces criminal charges of possession and importation of child pornography because of comics found on his computer by Canadian customs officers.


Full article here.

[DOLLARCOMICS]

This is more frightening then Seduction of the Innocent. And somewhere in the mists of ignorance, the ghost of Fredrick Wertham smiles devilishly.

[cartoonistaaron]

This is ridiculous. It's a comic book. How can a drawing of ANYTHING be illegal? They're drawings! Personally I find this stuff disgusting, but I also find cottage cheese disgusting and have been unsuccessful in attempts to have it made illegal, because that's absurd.

I just don't understand how they justify charging someone for possession of drawings.

[OverMaster]

The part where they also consider stick-figure sex as a part of the illegal material is the absolute topper for me.

[silverbolt77]

I can't believe what I'm reading. First since when are the FILES on your electronics checked at customs? Then, adult art has NOTHING to do with child pornography. Two completely different things. There's an implication there also that comic art/drawings are somehow only targeted toward children. What decade is this again?

[mjharwood]

I can't believe what I'm reading. First since when are the FILES on your electronics checked at customs? Then, adult art has NOTHING to do with child pornography. Two completely different things. There's an implication there also that comic art/drawings are somehow only targeted toward children. What decade is this again?

Actually, I took the implication as the "fan made" manga depicted characters from a series that sounds as if it's about children, judging from the title, probably engaging in sexual activities... Which is something that even Japan is starting to crack down on based on stories that were circulating a while back.

I'm personally on the fence about this one... As a parent, living in a world where there are people who sexually prey on the underaged, I have to ask what artistic merit there is in "fan made" depictions of minors engaging in sex acts that, from the sounds of it, were not part of the original creator's vision of the characters? That's kind of like taking Dora the Explorer and depicting her in sexual acts... Who sits there watching/reading these things about children and fantasizes about them being sexually active? Isn't that more disturbing than someone being held for having and/or creating these things? It is to me...

[pariah-1972]

*agrees with Silverbolt* this sounds way draconian to me , i mean for the Cbldf to go to bat for him it must be serious.

[OverMaster]

Actually, I took the implication as the "fan made" manga depicted characters from a series that sounds as if it's about children, judging from the title, probably engaging in sexual activities... Which is something that even Japan is starting to crack down on based on stories that were circulating a while back.

I'm personally on the fence about this one... As a parent, living in a world where there are people who sexually prey on the underaged, I have to ask what artistic merit there is in "fan made" depictions of minors engaging in sex acts that, from the sounds of it, were not part of the original creator's vision of the characters? That's kind of like taking Dora the Explorer and depicting her in sexual acts... Who sits there watching/reading these things about children and fantasizes about them being sexually active? Isn't that more disturbing than someone being held for having and/or creating these things? It is to me...

Yeah, but you could say the same thing about fans of ultra violent comics and videogames and gore movies being potential serial killers just about to explode.

[krammocon]

WTF! Can they now check our personal files on our electronic devices/gadgets at the airport?

[grphxkindaguy]

WTF! Can they now check our personal files on our electronic devices/gadgets at the airport?

Yeah, this is ridiculous, this is the first I've heard of it too.

If you refuse permission to have your electronic devices checked, do the authorities confiscate it (to be returned later when you leave) and let you pass through, or just refuse you admission into the country?

[pariah-1972]

WTF! Can they now check our personal files on our electronic devices/gadgets at the airport?

yes one would think they would have better things to do.

[vbartilucci]

I wrote this blog post about the last time the CBLDF came to the defense of a creepy guy -

On the art of holding your nose while keeping your car on the right path

[Radical_dreamer]

yes one would think they would have better things to do.

:rolleyes:

"Protect us! Protect us I say! Protect us from all dangers, visible and otherwise!...But in a way that is not inconvenient to me! In fact, you're doing it wrong; here is a list of what you need to do. Trust me, I know these things. I'm a citizen with a wi-fi connection."

Urgh.

[pariah-1972]

:rolleyes:

"Protect us! Protect us I say! Protect us from all dangers, visible and otherwise!...But in a way that is not inconvenient to me! In fact, you're doing it wrong; here is a list of what you need to do. Trust me, I know these things. I'm a citizen with a wi-fi connection."

Urgh.

Protect us from guys with manga on their comp? oh the horrors !

[Nevets F]

:rolleyes:

"Protect us! Protect us I say! Protect us from all dangers, visible and otherwise!...But in a way that is not inconvenient to me! In fact, you're doing it wrong; here is a list of what you need to do. Trust me, I know these things. I'm a citizen with a wi-fi connection."

Urgh.

Quite frankly, this is a stupid post.