Sexy Photo Vaults Teen To Unwanted Fame

Image Of Star Athlete At Meet Proliferates On Web; Expert Offers Tips To Avoid Same Fate

(CBS)  Allison Stokke is one of the top high school pole vaulters in America.

The California state champion has broken five national records.

But in cyberspace, people think of the 18-year-old from Norwalk very differently, because of one misleading photo.

The shot, explains Early Show co-anchor Hannah Storm, was taken at a track meet and posted on a sports blog. It's made Stokke the latest Internet "it" girl.

In less than a month, a virtual slideshow of still photos has taken her image around the world.

Search Stokke's name on Yahoo and you'll get more than 180,000 results.

Fans have launched a MySpace page for Stokke. An amateur video from Stokke's past posted on YouTube has been viewed 225,000 times, and counting

The problem is that all this attention is unwanted, and out of control. Reactions on the blogosphere include lewd comments and troubling content.

The Washington Post featured Stokke's story as front page news. Her father told the newspaper. "We have to be smart and deal with it the best we can. It's not something that you can just make go away."

Out of concern for Stokke's safety, he says he will continue to monitor message boards for potential stalkers.

On The Early Show Wednesday, Internet privacy and security lawyer Parry Atfab, who's executive director of WiredSafety.org, told Storm Stokke has no legal recourse.

"The legal recourse," Atfab said, "actually goes to the person who took the photo. Copyright holders are protected a lot more than the people whose pictures are taken."

Aftab cautioned that, "Anyone is vulnerable," to this sort of thing, "especially if they're attractive and their picture is uploaded to the Internet. One of the things we need to do is be very aware.

"You need to recognize that people are taking your picture. Cell phones are being used. All kinds of devices. You can't drive across New York or anyplace else without someone taking your picture at a traffic stop. We need to be aware we are in public at all times once you leave your house."

Even though you can't stop someone from taking your picture, Aftab continued, "You can get an idea of who they are, and how creepy they may be or where it's happening. In this case, it was a legitimate photographer who's unhappy about what happened. So you have to be aware. You also have to protect your own reputation."

How?

"Don't post something that you don't want everyone else to see. I always say, don't post anything on Facebook or MySpace that your parents, principal, predators and police can't see. So, protect your own reputation."

You can also set up Google alerts.

"You can go to Ggoogle.com and search for everything that is you," Aftab said, "your name, address, cell phone number, regular number, nicknames, screen names. You search for it. Then you set an alert, at Google.com/alerts, that will give you an e-mail anytime Google finds that on the Internet. It's an early warning system. In this case, if they've got pictures of her, and they're using her name, she would find where they are early. The earlier you find it, the better it is to take them down before you became the latest celebrity online."

If you discover something like this happened to you, "If you're a young person, you need to get an adult involved. You have to tell your parents, your coach, your principal. Adults need to be involved, because it could be potentially dangerous. The 15 megabytes of fame this young girl has is not something she's looking for. You need to let law enforcement know. If you become this famous, there are going to be people who are driving by your house. Reach out to local law enforcement. They keep an eye on your safety at school, at home and wherever you are.

"You can't mess around. And I really wish that the bloggers and everyone else out there who may find a picture like this thinks before they click. If you have got somebody underage, make sure that, if you're putting something up, that you recognize the ramifications and where it could go."

To read a commentary on the CBSNews.com blog "Public Eye" about the way the Washington Post handled the Stokke story, click here.

[igneouscobb]

http://www.allisonstokkepics.com has a ton of pics of her.

@bennyblack1

You didn't read or you don't know. The picture was taken at a public track meetand posted on someone's blog with some nasty comments. It was taken off at her request. But the real problem her is why? There are millions of pictures of stars, athletes, musicans, and people posted in the newspapers, magazines and blogs all over the place with writeups and comments good and bad. They should all be taken off or not published. Why is she any different? She wasn't in Playboy or some porno magazine naked. She's a athletic competitor like KOBE or a celebrity like Johnny Depp. If doesn't want this kind of status, she should stay home and not compete.

[bennyblack1]

I'm not gonna read the garbage that I think I will see on this blog. However, sexuality is a private matter not to be divulged in public. To alot of people who have no scruples whatsoever think that it's OK to post a private photo in public without permission of the person. IT'S NOT!!! It's an invasion of privacy if there was no permission to post it. Sexuality is a sensitive subject to decent people, and shared privately between two RESPONSIBLE individuals, NOT a group. Honestly, now, how would YOU like it if someone hid behind a fence and took pictures of you and posted them behind your back on the internet? The fact is that most people who do not object to someone ELSE being treated like a specimen in a jar WOULD object if they were treated the same way. If YOU wouldn't want it happening to YOU, why would you do it to someone else? Oh, I know the answer..."I'm not beautiful, that's why!" If this woman were Paris Hilton, that's different. She doesn't care...she's PROMOTING HERSELF in a sexual manner, and she allows it to happen. This athlete had no choice, which means, her freedom to make her own decision was stolen from her, which makes her a prisoner in her own country with people across the country gawking at her like a piece of meat.

[troyallen]

Let's just shut down the internet. Too many whiners, complainers and watchdog groups are ruining it.

[sero5]

This is a non-story. So what if her photo is copied throughout cyberspace? She is 18, not a minor anymore. Her athletic ability will get her publicity and hopefully an athletic scholarship in college.

[drew30319-2009]

Sorry for the quadruple-post.

:-)

[drew30319-2009]

This is a sad situation for Allison Stokke. To be honest I had not heard about her until the recent media blitz. Had Allison's father not spoken with The Washington Post I believe that a much smaller subset of the population would be familiar with her.

She obviously is very talented and I would not have thought anything more of her photos than seeing an athlete in prime condition.

It is ironic however that her father, Allan Stoke - an attorney, has moved this issue into the mainstream. His track record of defending sexual predators is disturbing.

He was able to get just six years of prison for an adult that molested three boys ranging from 12 to 14 years of age.

He defended a predator that was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl using a bottle, pool cue and cigarette. A video tape of the girl, unconcious, was used as evidence. Stokke "described the victim as a would-be porn star who pretended to be unconscious in the video."

Stokke was able to get a police officer acquitted after "(he) unbuttoned his pants and placed his *** in her hand ... He also grabbed the woman's breast and used a finger to sexually penetrate her." Stokke claimed that the victim had initiated the incident.

Hopefully Allan Stokke will have a change of heart now that it's his family that is in danger of being victimized.

Drew Crecente, Director
Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

[drew30319-2009]

This is a sad situation for Allison Stokke. To be honest I had not heard about her until the recent media blitz. Had Allison's father not spoken with The Washington Post I believe that a much smaller subset of the population would be familiar with her.

She obviously is very talented and I would not have thought anything more of her photos than seeing an athlete in prime condition.

It is ironic however that her father, Allan Stoke - an attorney, has moved this issue into the mainstream. His track record of defending sexual predators is disturbing.

He was able to get just six years of prison for an adult that molested three boys ranging from 12 to 14 years of age.

He defended a predator that was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl using a bottle, pool cue and cigarette. A video tape of the girl, unconcious, was used as evidence. Stokke "described the victim as a would-be porn star who pretended to be unconscious in the video."

Stokke was able to get a police officer acquitted after "(he) unbuttoned his pants and placed his *** in her hand ... He also grabbed the woman's breast and used a finger to sexually penetrate her." Stokke claimed that the victim had initiated the incident.

Hopefully Allan Stokke will have a change of heart now that it's his family that is in danger of being victimized.

Drew Crecente, Director
Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

[drew30319-2009]

This is a sad situation for Allison Stokke. To be honest I had not heard about her until the recent media blitz. Had Allison's father not spoken with The Washington Post I believe that a much smaller subset of the population would be familiar with her.

She obviously is very talented and I would not have thought anything more of her photos than seeing an athlete in prime condition.

It is ironic however that her father, Allan Stoke - an attorney, has moved this issue into the mainstream. His track record of defending sexual predators is disturbing.

He was able to get just six years of prison for an adult that molested three boys ranging from 12 to 14 years of age.

He defended a predator that was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl using a bottle, pool cue and cigarette. A video tape of the girl, unconcious, was used as evidence. Stokke "described the victim as a would-be porn star who pretended to be unconscious in the video."

Stokke was able to get a police officer acquitted after "(he) unbuttoned his pants and placed his *** in her hand ... He also grabbed the woman's breast and used a finger to sexually penetrate her." Stokke claimed that the victim had initiated the incident.

Hopefully Allan Stokke will have a change of heart now that it's his family that is in danger of being victimized.

Drew Crecente, Director
Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

[drew30319-2009]

This is a sad situation for Allison Stokke. To be honest I had not heard about her until the recent media blitz. Had Allison's father not spoken with The Washington Post I believe that a much smaller subset of the population would be familiar with her.

She obviously is very talented and I would not have thought anything more of her photos than seeing an athlete in prime condition.

It is ironic however that her father, Allan Stoke - an attorney, has moved this issue into the mainstream. His track record of defending sexual predators is disturbing.

He was able to get just six years of prison for an adult that molested three boys ranging from 12 to 14 years of age.

He defended a predator that was convicted of sexually assaulting a girl using a bottle, pool cue and cigarette. A video tape of the girl, unconcious, was used as evidence. Stokke "described the victim as a would-be porn star who pretended to be unconscious in the video."

Stokke was able to get a police officer acquitted after "(he) unbuttoned his pants and placed his *** in her hand ... He also grabbed the woman's breast and used a finger to sexually penetrate her." Stokke claimed that the victim had initiated the incident.

Hopefully Allan Stokke will have a change of heart now that it's his family that is in danger of being victimized.

Drew Crecente, Director
Jennifer Ann's Group
JenniferAnn.org

Fight Teen Dating Violence!

[w00die--2008]

I don't understand the problem here. Pretty young athelete's picture bouncing around the web. Honestly. Where's the issue? I wish I could get that kind of attention. Is she a nun? Now if she's a nun, I totally understand.

[nlm2383]

"18-year-old from Norwalk"

That's not underage.... Read it again.

[baguadude]

You people don't get it. It's not the pictures or her dress that she and her parents are upset about, it's the lewd and inappropriate comments that are being posted on blog sites. She's a minor, which makes the comments even more wrong. It is too bad that the internet has provided an anonymous medium for the rude and inconsiderate to act out their perversion without recourse.

[CingularBabe]

I don't understand, really, how rthese photos are considered "***?" I mean, she is simply a beautiful athlete, and these photos (the ones I've seen) are athletic poses. If they were pics of a beautiful male athlete, they wouldnt be labeled "***." Once again, sexism rears it's ugly head.
As for the young lady's noteriety, she should be proud of her athletic prowess. She can't help it if the pervs look at these photos with their pants down around their ankles.

[bond00721]

Yes, if you're looking to avoid publicity, grant an interview and give new pictures to...The Washington Post! That way, you'll avoid having an article written in one of the most widely-read and widely-respected and widely-viewed-on-the-net newspapers! And surely that article won't be noticed, picked up, re-run, and maybe even turned into a story on national television! That's the way to avoid more attention and publicity! Gawd almighty this whole story is slightly ridiculous--because of the above line or thinking.

[jetranger7]

MAN, HOW DO I GET TO BE FAMOUS, I JUST WANNA BE FAMOUS HOW DO I GO ABOUT IT, HMMM, MAYBE I'LL POSE IN MY UNDERWEAR IN THE MIDDLE OF A FREEWAY ! GET YOUR CAMERA READY,, I'M GONNA BE FAMOUS !!

[phydeux1]

I don't see the big deal really, they're great photos of an athlete. As for her attire, I see 12 and 14 year old girls walking around malls wearing worse. Especially these girls who wear tiny "hotpants" style shorts with words like "Princess" or "Porn Star" written across their backside. I once confronted a mother in a grocery store about the fact that her daughter was wearing provocative clothing with writing that draws the passerby's eye to her butt, and her mother had the nerve to say its MY problem! As if her attire had nothing to do with advertising for people to look at her rump!

[toldyouso21]

Toldyouso: She's competing in a track meet. Should she wear a burka like the Muslim female athletes to prevent those with camera phones from posting her image all over the place?

Posted by wildchatt at 06:07 PM : May 30, 2007

Even so.....(I never saw the picture) never do or say anything in public that you do not want to come back on you. This is the electronic age--every little gesture, action or comment can be taken advantage of--so the advice still stands. No she does not need to be in a Burka--but if she is dressed appropriately, then the picture that is floating around should not cause her consternation. None of us, famous or otherwise, has any say on what ends up on the net--so again--watch how you act in public, and watch what you wear and what you say--you never know when someone will make you famous or....infamous. these are the times we live in now.

[wildchatt]

Toldyouso: She's competing in a track meet. Should she wear a burka like the Muslim female athletes to prevent those with camera phones from posting her image all over the place?

Hypnotoad: If her picture is part of a news story and the school has given permission for a photographer to be at the event, no parental permission is required. As I understand it, the original photo was a news photo that someone else unethically posted.

[hypnotoad72]

As a photographer, I know that when photographing people, I have to get pre-release authorization forms signed by the people I photograph if I were to use the photographs in a public setting. Individuals DO have rights. (that's why, in some videos, people who did not authorize their appearance to be displayed have their faces fuzzed out.)

The photographer who took that photo and posted it should have such a form signed by the young lady. If not, that photographer is in trouble.

Yes, the one who took the photo has copyright over the photo. But it doesn't end there.