Other LanguagesIt's Safer Internet Day. Attorney General Rob McKenna marked the day with a call to action on legislation to protect against technology-wielding criminals. McKenna was flanked by U.S. Attorney Jim McDevitt, sponsors of two bills recommended by his Youth Internet Safety Task Force, Look Both Ways author Linda Criddle and task force members during a press conference Monday at the state Capitol.
"Computers and other digital devices are increasingly vital links in investigations," McKenna said.
One law requested by the Attorney General’s Office (SB 5183/HB 1247) would create a class C felony crime of viewing depictions of child pornography. If enacted, the legislation would allow prosecutors to more easily prosecute child sex predators. Users of child pornography currently operate under a legal loophole that allows them to view illegal images without saving them on a hard drive, protecting them from prosecution under the state’s law prohibiting actual possession of child pornography.
The other proposal (SB 5184/HB1248) aims to bring statewide criminal forensics into the 21st century by directing the state to study the implementation a digital forensic crime lab to be housed at the Washington State Patrol.