Virtual space and social media studies

Virtual space and social media studies

Legal Mechanisms for Addressing Child Pornography in Cyberspace

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
mansoore fasihramandi 1
Roghayeh Mehri 2
1 Faculty Member of the Research Institute of Culture, Art and Communication. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8157-2622
2 Master of Fiqh and Basics of Islamic rmehri110@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0009-0004-0189-375X
10.22083/cssms.2024.488374.1020
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction: The emergence of cyberspace as one of the defining features of the modern era has transformed the world, creating a networked society that is deeply integrated into global life. While cyberspace itself is not inherently negative, its misuse can profoundly impact individual and societal relationships, thoughts, and behaviors. In many countries, cyberspace has become an essential part of daily life and a vital tool for various activities. However, the unique nature of the internet—its privacy, lack of oversight, and ease of access—has facilitated the spread of immoral and pornographic content, particularly in the Western world. Over the past few decades, the normalization of sexual topics and the proliferation of media tools, especially the internet, have contributed to the growth of the pornography industry.
One of the most alarming aspects of internet pornography is the depiction and distribution of child pornography, a severe form of child sexual abuse. Child pornography represents a significant online threat to children, often involving the exploitation of minors through grooming, trafficking, cyber prostitution, or the production of sexual content. The pornography industry in Western countries has created an environment in cyberspace that not only facilitates sexual deviance among users but also enables the commission of sexual crimes against children globally.
Given the profound impact of this technology on public morality, addressing the ethical and legal dimensions of child pornography is of paramount importance. This study seeks to answer the question: What legal and ethical mechanisms exist to combat virtual child pornography? By examining the necessary ethical and legal frameworks, this research aims to provide a foundation for addressing the challenges posed by this issue more effectively.
Method: The research employs an integrated strategy, utilizing methods appropriate to each topic. Two primary methods were used: library studies and content analysis of laws. Data was collected through the review and analysis of books, articles, and legal sources, with a focus on existing laws criminalizing pornography.
Conclusion: The study highlights that, despite the 2020 Law on the Protection of Children and Adolescents in Iran, which aims to safeguard minors from sexual crimes such as pornography, the legislation has been largely ineffective in prevention and enforcement. The law lacks specific protective policies addressing child pornography and fails to consider the profound and lasting impacts of such crimes on victims. While the Islamic Penal Code prescribes punishments for certain sexual acts, it does not adequately address the unique vulnerabilities of children or the irreversible harm caused by the production and distribution of pornographic content.
The legislative approach to protecting children's rights in cases of pornography is insufficient, particularly in light of the rapid advancement of technology. Legal protections have not kept pace with technological developments, leading to gaps in the safeguarding of public morality and chastity. This disconnect between technological capabilities and legal frameworks has resulted in inefficiencies and contradictions in addressing child pornography.
In conclusion, the current legal structures for combating child pornography in cyberspace are inadequate. There is an urgent need for comprehensive legal reforms, enhanced preventive measures, and a stronger focus on the ethical implications of this issue. Effective solutions must address both the technological and cultural dimensions of the problem to ensure the protection of children and the preservation of public morality.
 
Keywords
Keywords: Child
cyberspace
pornography
sexual crimes
منابع و مأخذ
ابن بابویه، محمد بن علی (1380). علل الشرائع، ترجمه و شرح محمدجواد ذهنی تهرانی، جلد 1،  قم: مؤمنین.
اسلوین، جیمز (1380). اینترنت و جامعه، ترجمۀ عباس گیلوری، تهران: کتابدار.
بای، حسینعلی و بابک پورقهرمانی (1388). بررسی فقهی و حقوقی هرزه­نگاری در فضای مجازی، حقوق اسلامی، 6(23)، 97-125.
برهانی، محسن (1394). جرم­انگاری حقوق بشری، از اقتضائات صحیح اخلاقی تا خودمختاری، حقوق بشر، 10(1)، 105-111.
جعفری­لنگرودی، محمدجعفر (1398). ترمینولوژی حقوق، تهران: گنج دانش.
حیدری، علی­مراد (1402). نقد سیاست کیفری تقنینی در برابر کودک­کامی مجازی، مجله حقوقی دادگستری، 87(124)، 359-384. https://doi.org/10.22106/jlj.2023.1999156.5237
خوش­صفا، مجید و مجید کفاشی (1395). بررسی رابطه شبکه­های اجتماعی مجازی و ارزش خانواده، فصلنامه راهبرد اجتماعی ـ‌ فرهنگی، 6(23)، 174-2000.
سروش، عبدالکریم (1398). اخلاق خدایان، تهران: نشر آگاه.
شیروی، عبدالحسین (1400). حقوق تطبیقی، تهران: انتشارات سمت.
غنی­زاده بافقی، مریم، چاجی، فاطمه (1402). بررسی تطبیقی حمایت از حق تصویر کودک در فضای مجازی، نشریه علمی پژوهش­های حقوقی، 22(56)، 263-294، https://doi.org/10.48300/jlr.2022.325738.1929
کار، جان (1382). آثار مصر پورنوگرافی کودک، ترجمۀ محمدحسن دزبانی، خبرنامه انفورماتیک، شماره 88.
کوهن، آلن (1378). تغییر نگرش و تأثیر اجتماعی، ترجمۀ علیرضا کلدی، تهران: دانشگاه علوم بهزیستی و توان‌بخشی.
مارکوم، کترین دیویس، جورج­ای، هیگینز (1397). شبکه­های اجتماعی به مثابه ابزار ارتکاب جرم، ترجمۀ حمیدرضا دانش‌ناری و ابراهیم داوودی، تهران: میزان.
مسعودی، حمید و حسین بهروان (1396). تبیین جامعه­شناختی عوامل مرتبط با عضویت، بازدید و ماندگاری کاربران در گروه­های اینترنتی غیراخلاقی، رسانه و فرهنگ، پژوهشگاه علوم انسانی و مطالعات فرهنگی، 7(1)، 109-132.
موسوی­الخمینی، سیدروح‌الله (1379). تحریرالوسیله، قم، دارالعلم.
فیومی، احمد بن محمد (1414). مصباح المنیر، قم: دارالهجره.
نگهی، مرجان (1391). مقابله با هرزه­نگاری کودکان: بررسی تطبیقی اسناد بین­المللی و قوانین کیفری ایران، پژوهشنامه حقوق کیفری، 3(2)، 135-159.
نیکبختی، جواد، محمدنسل، غلامرضا و بهروز گلپایگانی (1399). بررسی تطبیقی قانون حمایت از اطفال و نوجوانان در برابر هز­نگاری و پروتکل الحاقی به کنوانسیون حقوق کودک، فصلنامه حقوق پزشکی، ویژه­نامه حقوق شهروندی و حقوق بشر، 115-131.
ویندال، سون، اولسون، جین، سیگنایزر، بنو (1387). کاربرد نظریه­های ارتباطات، ترجمۀ علیرضا دهقان، تهران: انتشارات جامعه­شناسان.
 
Arsenio Willliam F. and Elizabeth A Lemerise (2010). Emotion Aggression and Morality in Children Bridging Development and Psychopathology Washington DCI American Psychological Association
Ball T. New Zealand’s Regulation of Internet Child Pornography. Doctor of Philosophy in Law. Waikato: Waikato University; 2017. p.321.
Bey, Hossein Ali, and Babak Pourghahremani (2009). A Jurisprudential and Legal Study of Pornography in Cyberspace, Islamic Law, 6(23), 97-125. [In Persian]
Benshab A. pornography in cyberspace, west travel, September, 2005; No. 26.
 
Borhani, Mohsen (2015). Criminalization of Human Rights, from Moral Correctness to Autonomy, Human Rights, 10(1), 105-111. [In Persian]
Carr, John (2003). Egyptian Works: Child Pornography, Translated by Mohammad Hassan Dezbani, Informatics Newsletter, No. 88. [In Persian]
Cohen, Allen (1999). Changing Attitudes and Social Impact, Translated by Alireza Kaldi, Tehran, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences. [In Persian]
Fayoumi, Ahmad bin Muhammad (1993). Misbah al-Munir, Qom, Dar al-Hijra. [In Persian]
Gillespie AA. (2011). Child Pornography: Law and Policy, Waikato: Routledge. p.7.
Greijer S, Doek J. (2016). Terminology Guidelines for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Bangkok: ECPAT International. p150.
 
Ghanizadeh Bafghi, Maryam, Chaji, F. )2023(, A Comparative Study of the Protection of the Right to Children's Image in Cyberspace, Journal of Legal Research, 22(56), 263-294, https://doi.org/10.48300/jlr.2022.325738.1929. [In Persian]
Heidari, Ali Morad, 2023, A Critique of Legislative Criminal Policy against Virtual Childhood, Journal of Justice Law Review, 87(124), 359-384, https://doi.org/10.22106/jlj.2023.1999156.5237. [In Persian]
Homosexuality and the Additional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Medical Law Quarterly, Special Issue on Citizenship and Human Rights, 115-131. [In Persian]
 
Ibn Babawayh, Mohammad bin Ali (2001). Causes of Shara'i', vol. 1, translated and commented by Mohammad Javad Zamani Tehrani, Qom, Mu'minin. [In Persian]
Jafari Langroudi, Mohammad Jafar (2019). Terminology of Law, Tehran, Gane Danesh. [In Persian]
Janis Wolak, David Finkelhor, Kimberly J. Mitchell, Michele L. Ybarra (February March (2008). Online "Predators" and Their Victims (PDF) (Vol 63 ed). American Psychological Association. pp. 111–128. Retrieved March 2018.
 
Khoshsafa, Majid and Majid Kafashi (2016). A Study of the Relationship between Virtual Social Networks and Family Value, Quarterly Journal of Socio-Cultural Strategy, 6(23), 174-2000. [In Persian]
Marcom, Katherine Davis, Georgie, Higgins, 2018, Social Networks as a Tool for Committing Crimes, Translated by Hamir Reza Danesh-Nari and Ebrahim Davoodi, Tehran, Mizan. [In Persian]
Masoudi, Hamid & Hossein Behrvan (2017). Sociological Explanation of Factors Related to Membership, Visit, and Retention of Users in Unethical Internet Groups, Media and Culture, Research Institute for Humanities and Cultural Studies, 7(1), 109-132. [In Persian]
Mousavi Khomeini, Seyyed Ruhollah (2000). Tahrir al-Wasila, Qom, Dar al-'Ilm. [In Persian]
Neghi, Marjan (2012). Combating Child Pornography: A Comparative Study of International Documents and Iranian Criminal Law, Journal of Criminal Law Research, 3(2), 135-159. [In Persian]
Nasir, R. Zamani, Z. A. Ismail, R. Yusooff, F& Khairuddin, R. (2010). Self-esteem and cognitive distortion among women involved in prostitution in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 1939-1944.
 
Nikbakhti, Javad, Mohammad Nasl, Gholamreza, and Behrouz Golpayegani (2020), A Com
Slevin, James (2001). The Internet and Society, Translated by Abbas Gilouri, Tehran, Librarian. [In Persian]
Soroush, Abdolkarim (2019). The Ethics of the Gods, Tehran, Agah Publishing. [In Persian]
Shiravi, Abdolhossein (2021). Comparative Law, Tehran, Samt Publications. [In Persian]
Wendal, Sohn, Olson, Jane, Signizer, Benno (2008). Application of Communication Theories, Translated by Alireza Dehghan, Tehran, Sociologists Publications. [In Persian]
 

  • Receive Date 13 October 2024
  • Revise Date 29 October 2024
  • Accept Date 10 December 2024
  • First Publish Date 10 December 2024
  • Publish Date 20 December 2024