Florida statute
Fla. Stat. § 847.0135 — Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties
Current through 2025 Florida Statutes
Part of Chapter 847: Obscenity, Florida Statutes.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Fla. Stat. § 847.0135
Statutory text current through the 2025 Florida Statutes. This publication reproduces the official statutory text; it is not the official statutes of the State of Florida.
(1) SHORT TITLE.—This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Computer Pornography and Child Exploitation Prevention Act.”
(2) COMPUTER PORNOGRAPHY.—A person who:(a) Knowingly compiles, enters into, or transmits by use of computer;(b) Makes, prints, publishes, or reproduces by other computerized means;(c) Knowingly causes or allows to be entered into or transmitted by use of computer; or(d) Buys, sells, receives, exchanges, or disseminates,any notice, statement, or advertisement of any minor’s name, telephone number, place of residence, physical characteristics, or other descriptive or identifying information for purposes of facilitating, encouraging, offering, or soliciting sexual conduct of or with any minor, or the visual depiction of such conduct, commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. The fact that an undercover operative or law enforcement officer was involved in the detection and investigation of an offense under this section shall not constitute a defense to a prosecution under this section.
(3) CERTAIN USES OF COMPUTER SERVICES OR DEVICES PROHIBITED.—Any person who knowingly uses a computer online service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to:(a) Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child or another person believed by the person to be a child, to commit any illegal act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in any unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child; or(b) Solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to solicit, lure, or entice a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child or a person believed to be a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child to consent to the participation of such child in any act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in any sexual conduct,commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Any person who, in violating this subsection, misrepresents his or her age, commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. Each separate use of a computer online service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission wherein an offense described in this section is committed may be charged as a separate offense.
(4) TRAVELING TO MEET A MINOR.—Any person who travels any distance either within this state, to this state, or from this state by any means, who attempts to do so, or who causes another to do so or to attempt to do so for the purpose of engaging in any illegal act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in other unlawful sexual conduct with a child or with another person believed by the person to be a child after using a computer online service, Internet service, local bulletin board service, or any other device capable of electronic data storage or transmission to:(a) Seduce, solicit, lure, or entice or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child or another person believed by the person to be a child, to engage in any illegal act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in other unlawful sexual conduct with a child; or(b) Solicit, lure, or entice or attempt to solicit, lure, or entice a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child or a person believed to be a parent, legal guardian, or custodian of a child to consent to the participation of such child in any act described in chapter 794, chapter 800, or chapter 827, or to otherwise engage in any sexual conduct,commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
(5) CERTAIN COMPUTER TRANSMISSIONS PROHIBITED.—(a) A person who:1. Intentionally masturbates;2. Intentionally exposes the genitals in a lewd or lascivious manner; or3. Intentionally commits any other sexual act that does not involve actual physical or sexual contact with the victim, including, but not limited to, sadomasochistic abuse, sexual bestiality, or the simulation of any act involving sexual activitylive over a computer online service, Internet service, or local bulletin board service and who knows or should know or has reason to believe that the transmission is viewed on a computer or television monitor by a victim who is less than 16 years of age, commits lewd or lascivious exhibition in violation of this subsection. The fact that an undercover operative or law enforcement officer was involved in the detection and investigation of an offense under this subsection shall not constitute a defense to a prosecution under this subsection.(b) An offender 18 years of age or older who commits a lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(c) An offender less than 18 years of age who commits a lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.(d) A mother’s breastfeeding of her baby does not under any circumstance constitute a violation of this subsection.
(6) OWNERS OR OPERATORS OF COMPUTER SERVICES LIABLE.—It is unlawful for any owner or operator of a computer online service, Internet service, or local bulletin board service knowingly to permit a subscriber to use the service to commit a violation of this section. Any person who violates this section commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000.
(7) STATE CRIMINAL JURISDICTION.—A person is subject to prosecution in this state pursuant to chapter 910 for any conduct proscribed by this section which the person engages in, while either within or outside this state, if by such conduct the person commits a violation of this section involving a child, a child’s guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child’s guardian.
(8) EFFECT OF PROSECUTION.—Prosecution of any person for an offense under this section shall not prohibit prosecution of that person in this state or another jurisdiction for a violation of any law of this state, including a law providing for greater penalties than prescribed in this section or any other crime punishing the sexual performance or the sexual exploitation of children.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties a felony or a misdemeanor in Florida?
It depends on the circumstances: computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties ranges from a Misdemeanor of the First Degree to a Felony of the Second Degree in Florida under Fla. Stat. § 847.0135.
Computer pornography: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(2)) · Prohibited computer usage — soliciting a child or believed child: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3)) · Prohibited computer usage — misrepresentation of age: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(3)) · Traveling to meet a minor: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(4)) · Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — adult offender: Felony of the Second Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(b)) · Lewd or lascivious exhibition using a computer — juvenile offender: Felony of the Third Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(5)(c)) · Owner or operator permitting violation: Misdemeanor of the First Degree (Fla. Stat. § 847.0135(6))
Which Florida statute covers computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties?
Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties is governed by Fla. Stat. § 847.0135 (Computer pornography; prohibited computer usage; traveling to meet minor; penalties).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.