Pete Townshend May Have Proof Clearing Him In Child-Porn Investigation

LAUNCH ^ | 1/30/2003 | Bruce Simon

[TLBSHOW]

Pete Townshend May Have Proof Clearing Him In Child-Porn Investigation

(1/30/03, 7 a.m. ET) -- Pete Townshend may have some proof in his battle to clear his name against child-pornography allegations.

Britain's Internet Watch Foundation (IWF), which works "to minimize the availability of illegal Internet content, particularly child abuse images," has announced that Townshend contacted the organization last year regarding some of the websites he had found while allegedly doing research into pedophilia. The IWF denied any such communication when Townshend was arrested earlier this month, but has now been able to produce some emails from last summer and autumn that seemingly back up the Who leader's claims.

Townshend issued this statement on his website (petetownshend.com): "You may recall that among the media frenzy of a couple of weeks ago, representatives of the Internet Watch Foundation told the press and the news stations that they had never heard from me. I, of course, know that I did communicate with them several times last year, and they have now supplied to us copies of my emails to them, one in August and the rest in November. My lawyers have written to the founder of the IWF, Mark Stephens, who was adamant that they had never heard from me, asking for an explanation."

For it's part, the IWF says it had no choice but to deny any prior contact with Townshend: "Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment or disclose information about the personal details of individuals who make reports to us unless they give their permission."

Townshend was arrested and released on bail on January 13 after British police searched his house as part of Operation Ore, an ongoing pedophilia investigation. He has so far not been charged with any crime. He was taken in as part of an ongoing investigation into Internet child pornography around the world after his name and credit-card information was found at a pedophile website. Townshend has admitted visiting a handful of child-pornography sites and using his credit card to enter one, although he claims he was doing research for his upcoming autobiography, and that the book will include a claim of sexual abuse between the ages of five and six-and-a-half years old while he lived with his maternal grandmother (the alleged abuse came from a male friend of his grandmother's).

In an interview with the British tabloid The Sun published before he was taken into custody, Townshend said, "I am angry about child porn on the Internet, and deeply wounded at the inference that I might be a pedophile. I have looked at child porn sites maybe three or four times in all, the front pages and previews. But I have only entered once using a credit card and I have never downloaded. With hindsight it was very foolish, but I felt so angered about what was going on, it blurred my judgment...

I have never purchased any forms of child pornography or wished to own any...I was stupid to try to deal with my anger about child porn on the Internet alone. We must try to stop it but if we can't do that we should invest our energy in helping victims of abuse...it is important that the police are able to convince themselves that--if I did anything illegal--I did it purely for research. I am not a pedophile...

I sincerely believed that the police would know my history as someone who works tirelessly to help the abused, and that since 1978 I have run a charity which has contributed millions to organizations working to prevent violence and abuse."

-- Bruce Simon, New York

[TLBSHOW]

Unlike Scott Ritter disgraced Anti-American.

[mewzilla]

So what excuse does Petey have for showing this filth to his son?

[You Gotta Be Kidding Me]

How do you know he did? Have you spoken to his son, or has Dan Rather told you this? Nah,.........nevermind.

[TLBSHOW]

Internet Watch Foundation - Updated information

Those of you that have been following the current case involving Pete will be aware he had stated that he had been in contact with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) regarding his concerns over child pornography on the Internet. At the time the story first broke the IWF denied that they had in fact heard from Pete. They have now admitted that they did in fact have communication with Pete on a number of occasions.

This is the remit of the IWF (taken from their website http://www.iwf.org.uk )

'The Internet Watch Foundation works in partnership with ISPs, Telcos, Mobile Operators, Software Providers, Police and Government, to minimise the availability of illegal Internet content particularly child abuse images. Our Internet Hotline can deal with reports of potentially illegal Internet content, such as websites, newsgroups and online groups that:

Contain images of child abuse, anywhere in the world.

Contain adult material that potentially breaches the Obscene Publications Act in the UK.

Contain criminally racist material in the UK.'

As you can see the IWF was the correct body for Pete to approach but since some of the media have reported the fact that the IWF denied receiving any communication from him we thought it was important that this updated information was published.

In response to this information Pete has said :

"You may recall that among the media frenzy of a couple of weeks ago, representatives of the Internet Watch Foundation told the press and the news stations that they had never heard from me. I, of course, know that I did communicate with them several times last year and they have now supplied to us copies of my e-mails to them, one in August and the rest in November. My lawyers have written to the Founder of the IWF, Mark Stephens, who was adamant that they had never heard from me, asking for an explanation."

http://www.petetownshend.co.uk/diary/display.cfm?id=32&zone=pr

[mewzilla]

I heard it on FOX actually. I don't watch CBS.

[One_who_hopes_to_know]

"....For it's part, the IWF says it had no choice but to deny any prior contact with Townshend: "Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment or disclose information about the personal details of individuals who make reports to us unless they give their permission...."

Isn't it convenient that they can hide behind this when it would clear someone. However it did not stop them from smearing Townshend in the first place. If they cannot comment, then why did they publicly say Townshend had NOT contacted them?

[TLBSHOW]

"I predicted many years ago that what has become the internet would be used to subvert, pervert and destroy the lives of decent people.

"I have felt for a long time that is part of my duty, knowing what I know, to act as a vigilante to help support organisations like the Internet Watch Foundation, the NSPCC and Scotland Yard to build up a powerful and well informed voice to speak loudly about the millions of dollars being made by American banks and credit card companies for the pornography industry.

"That industry deliberately blurs what is legal and illegal, and different countries have different laws and moral values about this. I do not. I do not want child pornography to be available on the internet anywhere at any time.

Pete Townshend

[Delbert]

Damn......Hopefully he can continue to clear his name..and perhaps maybe this was a well intentioned act but in poor judgement regarding possible outcomes.
Unfortunately ..regarding child porn...it will always invoke harsh rush to judgegment. Damn Im glad he wasnt burnt at the stake over this. sorry Pete.

[TLBSHOW]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/822085/posts

FOX NEWS


The Fox 411 has obtained an impassioned letter Townshend wrote and posted to his own Web site a year ago — and since deleted — which may or may not demonstrate that he was doing what he said he was doing.

Titled "A Different Bomb," Townshend discusses his own difficult childhood at the hands of a domineering grandmother. He writes about the suicide of a friend who was the victim of child abuse, and then observes: "On the issue of child-abuse, the climate in the press, the police, and in Government in the U.K. at the moment is one of a witch-hunt."

[Aaron0617]

Pete Townshend May Have Proof Clearing Him In Child-Porn Investigation

You know what proof is? Is that he is a rock star in Britian.

This 'man' paid for child porn. Yes, in this case it was a sting but he basically meant to give money to men who raped, abused and assaulted children.

Pete Townshend should be locked up with every other pedo, but I fear he will walk because of his star status.

[TLBSHOW]

Like I said when the story first broke he is not guilty. Now Scott Ritter, he was guilty!

[ThreeYearLurker]

Why don't you look at what the facts are, and not rush to judgement. You are no better that a anti-war liberal trhat shouts "No war for oil!"

[Mr. Mulliner]

the IWF says it had no choice but to deny any prior contact with Townshend: "Because of the provisions of the Data Protection Act, we are unable to comment or disclose information about the personal details of individuals who make reports to us unless they give their permission.

Huh? Just because they cannot disclose publicly their correspondence does that mean that they have to deny all correspondence? This makes no sense at all.

I've been thinking all along that Townshend may very well be innocent. Not that I'm a big Who fan or anything, but for the police, nabbing a big name like that does tend to bring in a lot of pats on the back. Even if he later is proven innocent, it gives people the idea that the police are effective in their work.

[Mr. Mulliner]

Pete Townshend should be locked up with every other pedo, but I fear he will walk because of his star status.

My brother-in-law is a district attorney and says that star status tends strongly to increase the chance of conviction and harsher punishment rather than the reverse. Judges are usually much more afraid of appearing lenient toward public figures than appearing too harsh to a public figure's fans.

[TLBSHOW]

bttt

[Guillermo]

I'd think pedophelia was an OK behavior in neo-pagan Europe...

[TLBSHOW]

ping

[PBRSTREETGANG]

Wonder how many child pornographers are e-mailing IWF right now so they can have this excuse in their hip pockets later on?

[TLBSHOW]

I thought of that but I will bet their computers would tell another story if they are caught. While Pete it will come out as it has already come out has been against this for years. He was foolish in going about it as he did maybe, but is research not allowed on subjects that are considered taboo? If so how would you suggest we stop Porn and Child Porn on the net?

How about this example which is sorta off subject but maybe not. When you're child if you have one, would like to research the White House, most kids would type in this .com not .gov

www.whitehouse.com

Point is we need to get Porn off the net or give it a xxx.com keyword if taking this filth off the net offends people and their rights to be perverts!

[rolling_stone]

If I recall correctly Pete's amazing communications were made AFTER it was know the Authorities had info from the porn sites...