TOKYO - JAPAN'S number of known child pornography victims surged
by half last year, data showed on Thursday, a new record in a
country where it is legal to possess sexually explicit images of
children.
Despite its production and distribution being outlawed, Japan is
seen as a major global source of child pornography in photo and
video form, and authorities have stepped up efforts to contain the
problem.
The National Police Agency on Thursday said law enforcers took
action in 1,342 child porn cases last year, up 43.5 per cent from
the previous year, to reach a new record since such data was first
compiled in 2000.
A total of 618 children under 18 were recorded as having fallen
victim to pornographic exploitation, up 52.6 per cent, police
said.
The widespread availability of online child pornography in Japan
is further fueling the problem in a country where general crime
levels are low.
The data found that the Internet was the medium for spreading
child porn in 783 cases, accounting for almost 60 per cent of the
total.
-- AFP
