News
Internet Porn Tied to the Mob
Published: Jun 16, 2003 - 02:02 AM
Recent news reports reveal a connection between Internet porn and organized crime.
The already dark world of Internet pornography appears even darker to many, now that news reports have detailed the tie between the smut and organized crime.
The structure is like a funnel, with small-time pornographers routing clients and money to big-time crime. Jan LaRue, chief counsel of Concerned Women for America, said best estimates are that at least 100,000 porn sites occupy space on the Web.
"When you reduce them down, it appears that they're run by about twenty to thirty very large companies, and you can easily find ties to organized crime," LaRue said.
According to Glen Fradenburg of Bsafeonline, Inc., the income Internet porn generates dwarfs that of many legitimate industries.
"I think people feel pretty confident it's 10 billion dollars spent annually on porn, and that is larger than the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, all combined," Fradenburg said.
Ten billion is a conservative estimate. It may be three times that.
"That's just in this country," LaRue said. "It's been estimated at 56 billion dollars worldwide."
The World Wide Web, it would seem, is the perfect delivery vehicle for pornography, providing the perfect snare.
"The industry itself is out to make certain that, if you're on the Internet unprotected, they're going to every length to make sure you're exposed to it," Fradenburg said.
Trace the tendrils, and almost all sites lead into the criminal underworld.
"Anybody in law enforcement that's worked in this area will tell you that you don't have any business in pornography without the permission of the Mob," LaRue said.
That's reason enough to protect your computer and your family. The porn industry has lots of money to throw at bypassing filtering software. It hires the best technical experts to go to work on circumventing the newest filters.
According to Glen Fradenburg of Bsafeonline, Inc., the income Internet porn generates dwarfs that of many legitimate industries.
"I think people feel pretty confident it's 10 billion dollars spent annually on porn, and that is larger than the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball, all combined," Fradenburg said.
Ten billion is a conservative estimate. It may be three times that.
"That's just in this country," LaRue said. "It's been estimated at 56 billion dollars worldwide."
The World Wide Web, it would seem, is the perfect delivery vehicle for pornography, providing the perfect snare.
"The industry itself is out to make certain that, if you're on the Internet unprotected, they're going to every length to make sure you're exposed to it," Fradenburg said.
Trace the tendrils, and almost all sites lead into the criminal underworld.
"Anybody in law enforcement that's worked in this area will tell you that you don't have any business in pornography without the permission of the Mob," LaRue said.
That's reason enough to protect your computer and your family. The porn industry has lots of money to throw at bypassing filtering software. It hires the best technical experts to go to work on circumventing the newest filters.
