MySpace agrees to share sex offender data with states

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/052207dnnatmyspace.8f8de26d.html

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RALEIGH, N.C. - Faced with legal demands from state attorneys general, MySpace.com said Monday it will release data on registered sex offenders it has identified and removed from the popular social networking Web site.

The company, citing federal privacy laws, initially rebuffed a demand from North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper and colleagues in Texas and six other states who last week asked for data on how many registered sex offenders are using the site and where they live.

In Texas, Attorney General Greg Abbott said his office will use the data to crack down on sex predators who use the Internet to prey on children.

“The incorrigible nature of sex predators requires public officials, law enforcement, industry leaders and parents across Texas to join together to make the Internet a safer place,” Abbott said. “Without meaningful safeguards in place, no child is safe from the unwanted advances of chat room predators.”

How would police know that a registered sex offender was using it?

Mnay of these predators use the same name on many different websites.

Have you ever seen that MSNBC show called "To Catch a Predator"? They set up a decoy young girl or boy and a house. The investigators go online and pretend to be the girl or boy. The predatory men make arrangements to meet the children. They are busted by the camera crews, hosts and then the police.

not that I am for sex offenders but what if you were mis-identified by MySpace and your contact info is now in the hands of law enforcement?

they are trying to enfroce that on the net.

Tehy can use the net, lets say monster.com to post a resume, but not go near a site meant for kids

I have some problems with MySpace being turned into law enforcement, but that is a whole different matter

Now MySpace is tracking sex offenders? I wonder what happens if this private company accidently labels someone a sex offender?