Albany (WSYR-TV) - Governor Andrew Cuomo announced a deal with leaders of the New York State legislature that promises to strengthen laws against child pornography.
If enacted, the amendment to New York's Penal Law would make it a class E felony to knowingly access a website with the intention of viewing child pornography.
The Governor's office says the deal was inspired by a case decided by the New York Court of Appeals on May 8, 2012. The ruling stated that the law did not prohibit accessing and viewing child pornography on the internet.
Current law prohibits the possession of child pornography, but if images are automatically embedded in a computer when websites are visited simply for viewing, the court did not consider the act intentional possession.
"This legislation closes a loophole that has allowed predators to go unprosecuted and unpunished. That will no longer be an option," the Governor stated.
Assemblyman Joe Lentol, co-sponsor of the bill, said, "This bill is expected to pass this week.”
