Fearful of Crackdown, Computer Bulletin Board Service Pulls Porn

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Fearful of a government crackdown, a computer bulletin board service said Thursday it has gotten rid of all its erotica.

Exec-PC of New Berlin, which bills itself as the nation's largest computer bulletin board, notified subscribers Monday that it had eliminated about 50,000 files of adult material, including pictures of porno stars and nude photos.

The company has 700,000 electronic files offering everything from spreadsheet programs to X-rated graphics.

``Since it is only 7 percent of our service and it could result in the 100 percent loss of our business, the risk is not worth it,'' said Exec-PC founder Bob Mahoney.

The move comes as authorities are cracking down on the use of computer networks to transmit child pornography and arrange sex with children, and as Congress considers legislation to ban on-line porn. Possession or transmission of pictures of children engaging in sexual activity is a federal offense.

Last month, under pressure from German prosecutors investigating child pornography, CompuServe Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, blocked its 4 million users from reaching sex-oriented portions of the Internet.

Mahoney said he feared that keeping the X-rated materials could result in his equipment being seized, even if no charges were filed.

AP-DS-01-11-96 1528EST