Social Networks: CA Sex Offenders Could Get Banned
Several states already have laws on the books to keep sexual predators off MySpace and Facebook. Now, CA sex offenders could get banned from social networking sites too.
According to the Orange County Register, state lawmakers are proposing a new law that makes it illegal for registered CA sex offenders to use any social networking site including Facebook and MySpace.
According to the Orange County Register, state lawmakers are proposing a new law that makes it illegal for registered CA sex offenders to use any social networking site including Facebook and MySpace.
Officials claim the Internet is the new playground for sexual predators looking for victims.
Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) is author of the proposed law AB 2208. This bill would make it a misdemeanor for any person required to register as a sex offender to use any Internet social network web site.
Specific penalties are still being worked out but violators could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
As previously discussed, more than 3,500 registered New York sex offenders were kicked off of MySpace and Facebook were kicked off of MySpace and Facebook and other social networking sites.
The purge was part of the first database sweep since New York's Electronic Securing and Targeting of Online Predators Act "e-STOP" which took effect last year. The New York e-STOP program is the first of its kind.
In Georgia, a new bill also is on the table that could keep sex offenders off social networking sites. The proposed law would allow the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to release to social networking sites, like Facebook or MySpace, the email addresses and usernames of registered sex offenders, so that the social networking sites can match them up with people's profiles.
The bill could be passed as early April, and go into effect as soon as July.
- Pair of lawmakers aim to keep sex offenders off social Web sites (Daily Bulletin)
- New Bill Could Keep Sex Offenders Off Social Networking Sites (wjbf.com)
- Sex Offenders After Prison: Limits on Computer Use (FindLaw's Blotter)
Measure would ban sex offenders from Facebook, MySpace
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- Registered sex offenders in California may soon be barred from using social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris is sponsoring legislation she believes will protect children from predators.
If it becomes law, registered sex offenders in California would face jail time if they are caught on social networking websites. But, critics say the question really is, "How will those predators be caught?"
Most everyone agrees, young people are vulnerable to those they meet online, especially sex offenders.
"These young people are disclosing a lot about themselves and they are developing relationships of trust with perfect strangers," Harris says.
San Francisco's District Attorney Kamala Harris is behind the bill proposed by Assemblywoman Norma Torres of Los Angeles County that would ban registered sex offenders from using social networking sites.
"There is so much going on in kids utilizing technology, social networking sites, that we don't really know all the ways in which we can better protect kids, but this is a good first step," says Debbie Lee, with the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
The most obvious question is, "How will it be enforced?"
Harris says, "The way you enforce it, is you enforce it as we do as the lieutenant talked about, in terms of figuring out and responding to tips, responding to information that we receive," says.
"We are inviting you to tell us, to tell your parents of what is happening to you when you are on the internet," says Torres.
Chris Kelly was chief counsel for Facebook, which four years ago banned registered sex offenders from the site. Like Harris, Kelly is running for attorney general. He says California needs a more comprehensive law like the one New York has.
"What we need to do is require offenders to provide more information to the state so that sites can do it more effectively," he says.
Kelly helped New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's office draft the 2008 law called the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators act known as "e-STOP." New York requires that all registered sex offenders must provide their e-mail addresses, site usernames and online profiles.
In New York, the information provided by a sex offender is then turned over to those companies that run social networking sites and it is another felony if they are caught.
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