WASHINGTON, DC – Add peer-to-peer networks to those feeling the heat over the digital distribution of pornography. Congressional members of both parties are readying to take aim at P2P in their fall legislative sessions.At Thursday’s hearing convened by the Senate Commerce Committee, Senators Barbara Boxer (D–Calif.) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) both expressed disappointment with what they deemed a lack of “active steps” on the part of P2P software makers to prevent minors from accessing pornography via P2P networks.
“We’re going to get specific about this, pornography over the internet,” Stevens said. “People tell me we can’t do anything about it. I don’t believe that.”
Stephens and Boxer both suggested that they would seek legislation to require filters on P2P software clients, but Adam Eisgrau, executive director for P2P United, said that any claim of a “magic bullet” technological solution is “simply false,” and each panelist essentially discouraged the Committee from taking any sort of immediate action.
“It doesn’t sound to me like there’s any motivation here for a mechanism to bring about some standards for the future as far as these organizations are concerned,” said Stevens, who was frequently confrontational with the panel.
The recent Grokster decision, which held that the P2P services can be held liable for copyright piracy on their networks, has been hailed by some members of Congress, but has also served to allay the concerns of many in the entertainment industry.
“If ultimately this (Grokster) decision does not create the right atmosphere to deal with the piracy problem, then maybe Congress does need to act,” said Fritz Attaway, executive vice president of the Motion Picture Association of America.
These threats of legal action against the P2P networks come directly on the heels of several other porn-related legislative initiatives directed at regulating the adult industry, including more stringent 2257 regulations, and a newly proposed 25% tax on adult site sales.
