BBC NEWS | Technology | US steps up fight on child porn

BBC NEWS | Technology | US steps up fight on child porn: "US steps up fight on child porn
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Alberto Gonzales says child pornography is widespread online
The Bush administration is pushing for tougher measures to combat child pornography online.

The proposals were announced by US Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales, who said that the net had created an 'epidemic' of child pornography.

He said the internet encouraged paedophiles to create 'new and increasingly vulgar material'.

The comments were made in a speech at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Virginia.

Mr Gonzales highlighted the problem of adults preying on children in chat rooms and networking sites with the purpose of making sexual contact.

He quoted a study that said one in every five children is solicited online.

'It is simply astonishing how many predators there are, and how aggressive they act,' he said.

Out of control"