Pictures that range from depictions similar to those found in popular men's magazines, to pictures involving sexual acts with children. While most people would agree that the latter should be banned from circulation, numerous people might objext to the removal of the former. The method of distribution containing the most controversial pictures involves the use of binary files. These binary files are made available to individuals in certain discussion groups known as newsgroups. This regulation caused students to protest, however, questioning the ban's limitation of the First Amendment rights to free speech.
Jurisdiction is another area that hinders regulation of X-rated material on the Net.
Because of the global nature of the medium, sexual material may be posted, quite legally, in one area and downloaded, illegally, somewhere else. A case involving just such a situation was prosecuted recently in Tennessee. The Thomas case, as it is called, convicted two Californians for posting X-rated materials which were downloaded by a postal worker in Tennessee. It is obvious that the current standards that apply to more conventional mediums can not be used to regulate the information superhighway. If these current methods were extended to cover the realm of Cyberspace, the result would involve everyone having to abide by the laws of the most country or area.