Small Victory In Battle Against Kiddie Porn

When Dutch credit-card processor Vorotel cut ties with Bigfunhouse, the online payment site that provided access to Webcam pornography closed, a small victory was won in the war against Internet child porn.Vorotel severed ties with Bigfunhouse after being contacted by The New York Times about it processing credit-card transactions to allow adults access to teen porn. It's an example of how the flourishing business for Websites that provide kiddie porn generated by Webcams has slowed, according to a story in Friday's Times.

These portals that lead to teen porn need legitimate businesses, such as credit card processors, to exist. Cut off the money, and they cease to exist. Now, youngsters who want to strip and perform other sordid doings in front of their Webcams will find it more difficult to attract an audience.

The closing of Bigfunhouse and other portals occurred in the past two weeks after a Dec. 19 article in The Times (subscription required) described how minors, often with the assistance of their online fans, had begun operating pay pornography sites featuring their own images sent onto the Internet by Webcams, and the infrastructure that supported the teens' businesses, including portals established to attract customers to find these illicit sites.

Let's not kid ourselves, this victory is just a small one over those who want to exploit our children. It's a good start, though. Kudos to The Times and reporter Kurt Eichenwald.