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It wouldn't surprise me if computer forsensics is about as bad science as bullet forsensics. Ever since I had a porn virus hosting kinda lame porn videos over

It wouldn't surprise me if computer forsensics is about as bad science as bullet forsensics. Ever since I had a porn virus hosting kinda lame porn videos over BitTorrent like 20 years ago, I thought about exactly how computer forsensics prove intent in child sexual abuse material cases.

qingcharles 3y ago
I don't know. I've spoken to FBI computer forensics guys and their computer knowledge was up there with mine in terms of hardware, software, OS etc. I've been very, very impressed with them. The problems come when they pass their data to the prosecution and defense who are not computer trained and it all goes sour from there on.
- rightbyte 3y ago
  Ok nice to hear.
conductr 3y ago
Recently a teacher at my son's school was found to be part of a child porn ring. His mug shot was posted alongside a couple dozen others and initial impression was it was organized crime pedaling this stuff. Perception was he's guilty; lock him up. The immediate response was he was fired, arrested, etc. There were no facts or investigation but the school was in communication with us and getting info from LEO as the investigation began. We pretty quickly found that no kids were involved (sigh of relief). Then found out it was a part of a FBI sting and he was actually a lone actor not involved in any type of organized 'ring' (wait, what?). Then about a month after initial arrest, we found out he watched on his computer (streamed or tracked from an FBI server) approximately 3 videos. Unknown duration, unknown intent, unknown everything else. But, having seen the 'legit' side of the adult industry and how those websites work, I'm totally of the opinion he probably landed on a website and those videos 1) autoplayed 2) did not indicate or appear as containing underage people 3) or he clicked them and hit back once he realized the 'actors' appeared a little too young looking. The FBI sting also caught some terrible people and this teacher's mug shot in that press release basically made him guilty by association (that didn't exist). I don't know if this teacher did anything intentionally illegal, but in my opinion the facts that eventually came to be did not substantiate the initial response from law enforcement - which has ruined this man's career and ostracized him from our community (at minimum); he's still fighting to reduce charges so it's likely bankrupted him too. Also, If you search his name today, you'll see that press release and mugshot as top result. I know I've seen some adult content on 'legit' websites that I feel was questionable on age, no way to know for sure, but I didn't realize it until I viewed it and I just moved on with my browsing. It's scary to thing visiting any website could give the FBI enough data to come down this hard on someone.

qingcharles 3y ago

I don't know. I've spoken to FBI computer forensics guys and their computer knowledge was up there with mine in terms of hardware, software, OS etc. I've been very, very impressed with them. The problems come when they pass their data to the prosecution and defense who are not computer trained and it all goes sour from there on.

rightbyte 3y ago
Ok nice to hear.

conductr 3y ago

Recently a teacher at my son's school was found to be part of a child porn ring. His mug shot was posted alongside a couple dozen others and initial impression was it was organized crime pedaling this stuff. Perception was he's guilty; lock him up. The immediate response was he was fired, arrested, etc. There were no facts or investigation but the school was in communication with us and getting info from LEO as the investigation began. We pretty quickly found that no kids were involved (sigh of relief). Then found out it was a part of a FBI sting and he was actually a lone actor not involved in any type of organized 'ring' (wait, what?). Then about a month after initial arrest, we found out he watched on his computer (streamed or tracked from an FBI server) approximately 3 videos. Unknown duration, unknown intent, unknown everything else. But, having seen the 'legit' side of the adult industry and how those websites work, I'm totally of the opinion he probably landed on a website and those videos 1) autoplayed 2) did not indicate or appear as containing underage people 3) or he clicked them and hit back once he realized the 'actors' appeared a little too young looking. The FBI sting also caught some terrible people and this teacher's mug shot in that press release basically made him guilty by association (that didn't exist). I don't know if this teacher did anything intentionally illegal, but in my opinion the facts that eventually came to be did not substantiate the initial response from law enforcement - which has ruined this man's career and ostracized him from our community (at minimum); he's still fighting to reduce charges so it's likely bankrupted him too. Also, If you search his name today, you'll see that press release and mugshot as top result. I know I've seen some adult content on 'legit' websites that I feel was questionable on age, no way to know for sure, but I didn't realize it until I viewed it and I just moved on with my browsing. It's scary to thing visiting any website could give the FBI enough data to come down this hard on someone.