Prohibited images vs voyeurism

[Red Rodent]

What is the rational basis for such a gap? Even if we concede that a lot of child porn is exploitation the average sentence in the US of 8 years seems far in excess of sentences for "looking at naked children for sexual gratification" when it's not pixel based.

If you creep around peeking into kids' bedrooms, the chances are you're gonna get caught. The shame and utter humiliation of such detection means that few folk risk it, so the sentences don't have to be particularly severe.

If you view prohibited material online then, provided you don't pay for it or share it with others, the chances of getting caught are minuscule. The only way you'll get busted is if you have your storage devices seized for some reason. So the authorities have to bump up the sentences to ridiculous levels in order to create some sort of deterrent effect.

That's my theory, anyway.

[terminally_unique]

What is the rational basis for such a gap? Even if we concede that a lot of child porn is exploitation the average sentence in the US of 8 years seems far in excess of sentences for "looking at naked children for sexual gratification" when it's not pixel based.

If you creep around peeking into kids' bedrooms, the chances are you're gonna get caught. The shame and utter humiliation of such detection means that few folk risk it, so the sentences don't have to be particularly severe.

If you view prohibited material online then, provided you don't pay for it or share it with others, the chances of getting caught are minuscule. The only way you'll get busted is if you have your storage devices seized for some reason. So the authorities have to bump up the sentences to ridiculous levels in order to create some sort of deterrent effect.

That's my theory, anyway.

I think that makes a lot of sense statistically. The probability of getting caught for simple possession nowadays is very low with proper operational security, and even with disproportionately harsh sentences at the federal level, the expected punishment is still very low.

Contrast that with voyeurism or some hands-on offenses where the probability of getting caught is much higher, but even with more lenient sentences at the state level, the expected punishment is still not worth the risk for more rational people. For less rational people, the sentencing disparity creates a perverse incentive to offend against children in real life.

[Harlan]

Over the past 15 years, everyone has a phone with a camera and a significant portion of prohibited content was produced by minors at their own sexual desires and on their own camera, which just leaked onto the Internet. Watching these videos is quite comparable to voyeurism.

There are also so called caps videos which many consider to be more unethical, due to the fact that partner pretends to be a girl or a peer, which is why many consider it to be unfair. However, provided that it is NOT used for blackmail and intimidation, IMO it can also be compared to voyeurism, and the pretense in this case is forced in view of the existing laws, which do not allow one to be open, but at the same time the minor expresses their own sexual desires and they would express its in exactly the same way without the pretense of their partner if society had not criminalized inter-age relationships

[Red Rodent]

You may be right, but that seems like such a horrible, disgusting, morally bankrupt reason for life destroying sentences.

But obviously, Fragment, those convicted aren't being punished for the prohibited images: they are being punished for being paedophiles. Why else would pseudo-images and AI-generated material (even, in some jurisdictions, artwork and literature) be prohibited, when there is clearly no victim of them?

And that's because society regards people who find children sexually attractive as horrible, disgusting and morally bankrupt.

[stef]

much prefer stolen moments live , an accidental peek at a 10 year old camel toe , a loose bathing suit that momentarily reveals part of soft white skin near labia , a quick glance at a budding breast through summer blouse , those have fed and satisfied my alone moments since 2015 , imagination can take you high , in my case , no touching a preteen but creating opportunity to please my eyes