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Five Internet giants are pooling their resources to create the largest child porn library on Earth.

AOL, Yahoo, Microsoft, Earthlink, and the owner of NetZero and Juno pledged $1 million toward building the database — to hunt out child porn among their users. AOL, for example, plans to scan e-mails for child porn. If they find a match, they'll report the user to the authorities without a warning.

By the way, AOL's researching ways to do this with Instant Messenger.

There are four guaranteed outcomes here:

  • These four companies are about to get some padded resumes from sex offenders.
  • If the program works, the danger of owning recognizable images will create a demand for fresh kiddie porn.
  • If the Fed ever needs to shut down half the Internet, it can just arrest these companies for possession.
  • Biggest. Hacker bait. Ever.

Top Internet Providers Hope to Combat Child Porn With Image Database [Fox News]