700 paedophile suspects the tip of the iceberg says agent - Edinburgh Evening News

saw this in the news yesterday. 700 people in a city of about 400,000 seems a bit steep. Does this mean people who have accidentally downloaded cp will be on this list and therefore be "guilty". If only 10,000 images from these 700 computers were found then there must have been a lot of people with only a few accidentally downloaded images in their shared folder if you consider there must have been at least one person with hundreds.
So if you accidentally click on a cp download and it goes into your shared folder for 5 minutes before you notice it and delete it you could be guilty. Hope the Feds thought about this possibility but from the sheer huge number identified i think there are a lot of unfortunate innocents (including me, caused me to uninstall limewire altogether) that could be in trouble. Thanks cp traders, thats you got a lot of people shafted.

If you accidentally download a cp file and then delete it right away shouldn't be anything to worry about. The Feds are looking for the Freaks that have hundreds or even thousands of these files that they are shareing. Just my opinion.
Would like to add this, Not only is cp but almost every file on the network if Copyrighted, is illegal to download, depending on what Country you live in. Obviously cp is far more troublesome in my opinion, than the basic music or video file. Just be a little peranoid and pay attention to what you download. Always try to Preview the file before its completely downloaded to see if its what you thought it was.

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remoc,
i agree that the feds should be going after the people with hundreds of images / videos etc... instead of someone with 2 pictures / videos that they dont know are in their folder. Problem is the statistic given in the article suggest other wise. 10,000 images between 700 people works out at about 14 or 15 images each. Now take into account there will be someone with several hundred images and you have to think there will be some people with a half dozen at most and these are the people who might have clicked on a CP link without realizing it (thought they clicked on the link above or below it). If they then dont realize that it is in their folder for 20 minutes or so because they get sidetracked by getting a drink / phone call etc then they could be screwed because the software will just identify them as having CP on their computer. Hopefully the Feds double / triple checked and went back a few days later to see that they now no longer had this stuff in their shared folders.

Lobster001

I would just like to make a few points, first I totally agree with Remoc's point of view, which is based on common sense, especially the point about a little paranoia being good, however too much paranoia will drive you into an early grave.

My second point, most western laws are based on "intension", e.g. did you intend to download CP and/or did you intend to distribute it. Therefore, if you deleted the CP (video or pictures) almost immediately or as soon as you found it I think it would be very difficult for any western court to convict you of anything. However, I must emphasise that I am not a lawyer or solicitor, just a guy taking a common sense approach to the dangers on the gnutella network.

The thing to bare in mind, if you are found in possession of CP, whether you know it is on your PC or not, you are likely to be found guilty of an offence.

Personally, I think you have done the right thing by deleting LW and any suspect files you may have, you should also use utilities like “File Shredder” available here:

Download Simple File Shredder 3.2 - Simple File Shredder is a freeeware secure file deletion - Softpedia

To make sure those troublesome files are really gone, because windows deletion is not enough.

My final point is that a great man once said, “There are two kinds of lies, damn lies and statistics”.



UK Bob

thanks UK Bob,
its just annoying that because people out there are putting literally thousands of these files into the limewire syatem that there are innocent people getting caught out. I s**t myself when i saw a few dodgy files in the folder, I deleted them and they couldn't have been there any longer than 10 minutes but for the feds / uk police that is all they will need to screw you over.
I got one of these eraser programmes for free on the net and ran it, when i did one of these "recover my files" search it found very little except files called 00000000000000 etc.... i just hope that "file recovery" programme was finding everything possible!!
The laws concerning this issue though seem to make a criminal out of anyone.

Agreed.

I all so agree on This one.People need to take there time and look at the files they have or are downloading.Because the feds are all over P2P network.i am the most causes person around.I dont let any thing in or out.Unless i whant to.Because i dont whant to be slaped with a hefty Fine.From any Goverment.
So i mostly try to stay on the Low key.

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Howdy, Folks I feel the need to share this info. The authorities have lost there minds. They can't catch the perverts making CP, so they are going after every one they can to impress the media. I know of a case where a P2P user is charged with felony counts for accidently downloading < 40 files. on a 2 TB HD. In excess of 7000 files on HD. Lawyers have said the cops are aware of these files & are putting them out there themselves as bait. Also these files are over 20 years old. I think this should be entrapment. I also have a problem with the cops spying on us @ home. Also NYS has just made it a crime to view CP. Don't get me wrong, I don't like CP but, due to the slowness of the downloads on adult content, it can take many days to complete at times . I can see how someone can get this stuff unintentialy. So be prepared to prove yourself innocent if you are tagged. So, check completed downloads often. In any case CYA.

Greetings & Salutations! I wish to update my post of 4 years ago. I have finally been released from NYS prison. I was unjustly convicted of 5 counts of possessing cp. I went to trial & lost due to not having competent attorney work. I now am a RSO in NYS. I am currently appealing this conviction. I am told it will take a long time. I consider myself very smart, but I mistakenly had faith in our CJ system. I didn't think an innocent person could be convicted. So, I live & learn. Please check files as soon as they complete, if you can. If you can't right away move them to non shared file folder till you can examine them. Again CYA! The CJ system wants headlines & press, not justice. I can't give details now due to appeal. I will fill you in @ a later date. Just be aware law enforcement will only examine shared your files. They will also first try to download them from you, & if successful they will charge you with disseminating cp as well. safe surfing all!