Child porn on the rise in Russia

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MOSCOW, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- A Russian official said the amount of child pornography on websites in Russia has increased tremendously in the last four years.

"Over the past four years the number of crimes in Russia related to Internet production and distribution of pornographic materials depicting minors has increased by over 12 times," Deputy Interior Minister Igor Zubov said.

RIA Novosti reported the Russian Parliament's lower house debated a bill Wednesday that would combat child trafficking and slavery, as well as child prostitution and pornography.

Zubov said 550 such crimes occurred in Russia last year.

The new bill would allow fines up to $33,000 for the organization of child slavery, trafficking and distribution of child porn.