Quote :

"Cooper seeking MySpace numbers Attorneys general target predators Andrea Weigl, Staff Writer, N&O 5-15-2007 N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, along with seven other state attorneys general, called Monday for MySpace to release the number of registered sex offenders who have been identified as members on the social networking site and what the site has done to remove them. Cooper's letter and news release coincided with today's debate at the state legislature about a bill that MySpace opposes that would compel social networking sites to require parental consent before children younger than 16 can join. "MySpace is a treasure trove of potential victims for child predators," Cooper said in a statement. "Sex offenders have no business being on this site, and we believe MySpace has a responsibility to get them off the site.""

The whole world is a treasure trove of potential victims. Why is it MYSpace's responsibility to prevent convicted sex offenders from using their service if they are following the site's rules?

Quote :

"The attorneys general, who are leading an effort to get MySpace.com to better protect children online, cited media reports that there have been more than 100 criminal incidents involving adults who used MySpace to prey or try to prey on children. Cooper cited two cases: a former sheriff's deputy was sentenced to 15 years in prison last year for molesting a 15-year-old Cary boy he met on MySpace; and a Boiling Springs Lake police officer was charged last year with raping a 14-year-old girl he met on MySpace."

Sounds like law enforcement is a "treasure trove" of potential sex offenders. They might want to investigate that too. Were these police officers already registered sex offenders? How would these new regulations have prevented these guys from using MySpace for evil purposes?

Quote :

"MySpace officials said Monday that the company began in early May to search for registered sex offenders among its 130 million members and deny access to those whose identities are verified. "We agree with the attorneys general that keeping bad people out of good places on the Internet is a challenge and a priority," Hemanshu Nigam, MySpace's chief security officer, said in a statement. Nigam said MySpace supports legislation that would require sex offenders to register their e-mail addresses with state authorities, which has been proposed in North Carolina. It is unclear how many registered sex offenders have been found on MySpace because company officials couldn't be reached late Monday for specific numbers. However, Cooper and the seven other state attorneys general claim to have information that thousands of registered sex offenders have been confirmed as MySpace members, although they declined to identify the source of that information."

Yes, Mr. Cooper, how did you get all these names legally?

Quote :

""We think our sources for this information are credible, but we're declining to name them at this point," wrote Noelle Talley, Cooper's spokeswoman, in an e-mail message Monday to The News & Observer. "We've gone straight to MySpace because we want to get the most accurate and complete information." Cooper and his colleagues also have asked MySpace officials to explain what steps the company has taken to alert law enforcement and users who corresponded with members who were registered sex offenders. They also want to know what efforts have been made to remove offenders' profiles and how many have been removed. "We remain concerned about the design of your site and need for parental permission," the attorneys general wrote in their letter to one of MySpace's lawyers. Cooper is pushing legislation pending in the state Senate that would require parental permission for children under the age of 16 to become members and post personal information online -- a provision that MySpace opposes. In response to the legislation, Nigam, MySpace's security officer, said, "Internet safety experts have researched and concluded that age verification is unworkable and ineffective, and would create a false sense of security for teens and parents. We support legislation that would allow social networking sites to block registered sex offenders and punish those who change their age to solicit a minor online for sexual purposes." Among other things, the legislation also would ban registered sex offenders from using Web sites that permit minor children to be members and increases prison sentences for those who possess child pornography. "

Is anyone nervous about the gov't getting names from private organizations of "potential" criminals? It seems like by taking away everyones' ability to commit a crime, you are also taking away other freedoms. Security vs Liberty... which is more important?

5/15/2007 12:53:34 PM

sometimes they'll look at your myspace and then come over and shoot you in the head with a sub-machine gun

5/15/2007 1:19:01 PM

This is retarded, free webmail accounts don't require a real name and address. Any sex offender can get an e-mail address under the name John Walters and then create a myspace account with the same. This is stupid legislation that has unrealistic enforcement possibilities.

5/15/2007 1:52:40 PM

roy cooper/chris hansen '08 NC GOVERNOR

5/15/2007 2:02:24 PM

Virginia passed some sort of legislation this year that made sex offenders register all of their email addresses (I believe made it like a parole violation), and prohibited myspace usage IIRC. With that, the burden is on the sex offender. Myspace doesn't have the resources to screen all of the registered emails for sex offenders, although I suppose they could always have a "block list" based off of some state-provided registry.

5/15/2007 2:08:35 PM

You know, I've decided I really don't like the whole "register and out the sex offender's" bit. If they are still a danger to society, what the fuck are they doing free walking the streets? If they're free, then they aren't a danger and leave them the fuck alone. Sure, when a kid turns up missing, by all means make sure they're first on your list of people to visit, but for fucks sake, either they're a danger to society or they're not, and if they are, they should still be in jail.

5/16/2007 12:39:52 AM

BUT THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!! cause you know they are...

5/16/2007 12:43:33 AM

Quote :

"You know, I've decided I really don't like the whole "register and out the sex offender's" bit. If they are still a danger to society, what the fuck are they doing free walking the streets? If they're free, then they aren't a danger and leave them the fuck alone. Sure, when a kid turns up missing, by all means make sure they're first on your list of people to visit, but for fucks sake, either they're a danger to society or they're not, and if they are, they should still be in jail."

5/16/2007 9:23:28 AM

Just heard on NPR this morning that MySpace said they won't comply with the request because it's against federal privacy laws. Good for them. Not that I support sex offenders, but I do not support the government demanding private consumer information from companies because of some perceived threat that may or may not be valid.

5/16/2007 9:34:46 AM

guess who won't be able to operate in North Carolina then.

5/16/2007 9:35:33 AM

Quote :

"You know, I've decided I really don't like the whole "register and out the sex offender's" bit. If they are still a danger to society, what the fuck are they doing free walking the streets? If they're free, then they aren't a danger and leave them the fuck alone. Sure, when a kid turns up missing, by all means make sure they're first on your list of people to visit, but for fucks sake, either they're a danger to society or they're not, and if they are, they should still be in jail."

Amen.

5/16/2007 9:40:04 AM

Quote :

"This is retarded, free webmail accounts don't require a real name and address. Any sex offender can get an e-mail address under the name John Walters and then create a myspace account with the same. This is stupid legislation that has unrealistic enforcement possibilities"

/THREAD]

5/16/2007 11:53:08 AM

WTF, an EarthDogg thread I completely agree with.

5/16/2007 3:08:00 PM

^

yeah I'm all

5/16/2007 10:10:00 PM

Quote :

" N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper, along with seven other state attorneys general, called Monday for MySpace to release the number of registered sex offenders who have been identified as members on the social networking site and what the site has done to remove them."

Stuff like this makes me vicious. I'll indulge.

Translation:

Roy Cooper, Attorney General of a state that could never in a million years innovate enough to come up with something as profitable or popular as Myspace, is now on a witch-hunt after a technology he clearly doesn't understand. To expect the NC AG to understand the dynamics of social networking is too much; the man probably doesn't know how to check his own email.

MySpace is one technology that is practically 100% "opt-in." No amount of solicitation can occur now without parental consent, because the site doesn't exactly automatically redirect every kid who logs in to the Sexual Predators group.

Here's my patent- and royalty-free solution to the "problem" posed by Myspace, email, chat rooms, and practically any "social" online technology:

* all parents are required to know what their kids do online. They must set up non-administrative accounts for their kids' machines and know when and why they're using the internet. Any failing to do so constitutes gross negligence on their part, and will be met with public canings for an incredible lack of common sense.

I suppose the current legislative "race to the bottom" will continue until every NC legislator proves to the world, once again, that no-one -- themselves included -- should ever be required to know anything about computers or online safety (common sense).

5/19/2007 5:03:21 PM

^ I agree completely

Quote :

"guess who won't be able to operate in North Carolina then. "

And how is that possible? MySpace isn't based in NC, so they aren't bound by NC state laws. The only way MySpace can become illegal in this state is if the authorities start regulating Internet access China style.

5/19/2007 5:28:59 PM

Washington state recently made internet gambling a felony -- you know, like poker sites and whatnot... supposedly to put the state law in synch with the existing federal law.

so now internet poker sites that play for real cash can't operate in WA state. or the handful of other states that have similar laws.

5/19/2007 9:44:00 PM

This law is ridiculous and impossible to enforce.

Why don't we just prevent sex offenders from being able to use the internet period? Bellsouth, etc can't let them sign up for dial up/broadband/etc. If they are caught using it in a public place (airport, Starbucks, library, etc.) it's a parole violation.

5/21/2007 3:29:59 PM

man, i hate to be seen as defending child abusers in any way, but if someone commits a crime __X__ and serves their time, that should be the end of it.

if you say that crime __X__ is so serious that they'll always be a danger to society, then DONT FUCKING LET THEM OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I dont have the answers, but saying to someone "okay, youve served your time and paid your fines, but we're going to keep you on a leash for the rest of your life" is fucked up.

personally, I'd like any Level 3 (violent) sex offenders be locked up for the rest of their lives and/or physically castrated. but that a different issue.

restricting their internet and blockbuster rentals is not the answer.




[Edited on May 21, 2007 at 8:36 PM. Reason : ]

5/21/2007 8:30:33 PM

dammit, as soon as i posted that ^ , i remembered the arguments about why mandatory maximum and/or severe sentences are a bad idea.

fuck fuck fuck.

i hate this issue. there's no clear answer.

it just makes me want to go buy a lot of guns








[Edited on May 21, 2007 at 8:37 PM. Reason : ]

5/21/2007 8:34:20 PM

alright, forget everything i said.

i ain't sayin shit about this, except this;

if anyone ever abuses my kid, i'll beat them to death with my bare hands.

5/21/2007 8:38:31 PM