Changing Faces: Morphed Child Pornography Images and the First Amendment

In response to the changing face of child pornography and the harms associated with it, Congress enacted the PROTECT Act. Despite this effort to protect children¿s images online, there remains much to be done. First, the Supreme Court must uphold the PROTECT Act, finding morphed child pornography outside the scope of the First Amendment. Second, states must amend their statutory definitions of child pornography to encompass morphed child pornography.

Lastly, parents must be cognizant of the risks associated with oversharing pictures, as online images can be stolen and then used for illicit purposes such as morphing. These cogent paths forward can offer meaningful legal and social benefits to victims and potential victims of child sexual abuse and to children who suffer violations of their online privacy.