frequently asked questions (faq's)

1. What sites should I report?
2. What sites should I not report to ASACP?
3. What content isn't child pornography?
4. Will ASACP respond to my report?
5. Will I find out what actions have been taken by the authorities after I make a report?
6. I reported a suspect site to ASACP some time ago and it is still active on the internet. Why has the site not been shut down?
7. Can`t you just shut down these sites yourselves?
8. I`d like to hunt down these sites for the purpose of reporting them, could I get into trouble with the authorities?
9. How can I help support ASACP?
10. I received a suspicious email claiming to be from ASACP. What should I do?

1. What sites should I report?

   Please report ONLY websites. If possible please provide the exact address of the page (URL) where the child pornography (i.e. lewd images of children under 18) is located. To learn how to locate the URL in an email, click here. Only report if the image is lewd, sexual in nature or the picture focuses on the genitals. For more information about the definition of CP, click here.

2. What should I NOT report to ASACP?

   Do not report P2P (Peer to Peer) or Bit Torrent.

   Do not report Newsgroups or Usenet groups (i.e. URL contains "alt.binaries" or similar titles). 

   Do not report Chat boards or Instant Messages.

   Do not report Message boards.

   Do not report Web communities (i.e. Yahoo, MSN, AOL, Lycos, etc.)

   To report child pornography found on the above sources, click this link  ( www.NCMEC.org ).

   Do not report email addresses.

   Do not email ASACP suspected child pornography images.

3. What content isn`t child pornography?

   Text describing child pornography or explicit sexual behavior of/with children is not child pornography.

   Most child modeling sites are not illegal as the models are clothed and not engaged in sexual activity. However, if you feel you have witnessed sexually explicit and or lewd images of a child or children while viewing a child modeling site please report this.

   Child nudity does not always equal child pornography. The determining factor with child pornography is not whether the child is nude, partially nude, or fully clothed. The determining factor is what the child is doing and/or having done to him/her.

4. Will ASACP respond to my report?

   ASACP will provide feedback on all reports submitted through the ASACP form that include a valid email address. We will inform you that the report has been received and investigated. If the site contains actual child pornography the investigated report is sent to the F.B.I., The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and relevant international hotlines.

   You may not receive a reply if you send a report using a free Hotmail account. Many of our responses to Hotmail accounts are being returned as "undeliverable."

   Report sent to ASACP directly via an email will not receive a receipt verification. Only reports sent through the automated reporting system and containing a valid return email address will be acknowledged.

5. Can I find out what actions have been taken by the authorities after I make a report?

   The authorities are unwilling to discuss reports and ongoing investigations, so we have no details to provide regarding possible actions taken against a suspect site and its owner(s) / operator(s).

6. I reported a suspect site to ASACP some time ago and it is still active on the internet. Why has the site not been shut down?

   There could be many reasons why a reported site remains active on the internet. Some of the possible reasons are an investigation is still underway, no illegal material was found on the site, or the site is located in a country where the material is not illegal or where U.S. authorities are otherwise unable to act or gain cooperation from that country's own authorities.

7. Can`t you just shut down these sites yourselves?

   ASACP is only a reporting agency. It does not have the authority to shut down websites. The hosting service for the suspect website and the authorities are the only ones that have the ability to shut down child pornography websites.

8. I`d like to hunt down these sites for the purpose of reporting them. Could I get into trouble with the authorities if I do?

   If you intentionally seek out such websites so that you can report them, you may attract the attention of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and/or law enforcement agencies. ASACP strongly cautions against this practice, although we encourage anyone who accidentally comes across such sites to report them immediately. In the U.S. it is illegal to download, transmit, publish, or be in possession of child pornography for any reason. Laws vary around the world and even within countries, nothing contained in this paragraph constitutes legal advice and you are encouraged to contact your personal attorney if you have any additional questions about this topic.

9. Can I help support ASACP?

   If you`re an adult site webmaster, Become A Member! If you are not an adult site webmaster, you can make a donation to ASACP and, if you come across a site you suspect of containing child pornography, use our online form to report it.

10. I received a suspicious email claiming to be from ASACP. What should I do?

    Upon occasion, criminals have used fake ASACP email addresses to send "spoof" emails, viruses, demands and threats to individuals and websites. Please be aware that ASACP never, under any circumstances, initiates such contacts. Our mode of operation is detailed on the "About Us" page. If you receive a suspicious email, IM communication or message on a website purporting to come from ASACP, please forward it to us at comments asacp.org .