Explain what the PROTECT Act is and why the Supreme Court found it constitutional.

What will be an ideal response?

Congress passed the Prosecutorial Remedies and Other Tools to end the Exploitation of Children Today (PROTECT) Act in response to the Supreme Court’s decision that the previous federal law that dealt with virtual pornographic images of children were too broad and criminalized child pornography that did not involve actual minors. Under review, the Supreme Court held that the PROTECT Act was constitutional and did not violate the First Amendment. Central to the Court’s deliberation was the emergence of new technology that makes it difficult to tell when images are real and use real children. The Court said that all child pornography is harmful and that the PROTECT Act was not overly broad. Even though the Supreme Court determined that virtual child pornography that does not involve actual minors does not receive First Amendment protection, the courts continue to hear cases about child pornography and technology.