Supreme Court strikes down ban on virtual child pornography

<br>WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court struck down a congressional ban on virtual child pornography Tuesday, ruling that the First Amendment protects pornography or other sexual images that only appear

Tuesday, April 16th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court struck down a congressional ban on virtual child pornography Tuesday, ruling that the First Amendment protects pornography or other sexual images that only appear to depict real children engaged in sex.

The 6-3 ruling is a victory for both pornographers and legitimate artists such as moviemakers, who argued that a broad ban on simulated child sex could make it a crime to depict a sex scene like those in the recent movies ``Traffic'' or ``Lolita.''

The court said language in a 1996 child pornography law was unconstitutionally vague and far-reaching.