MySpace sex offenders

[cyberianpan]

London Times, July 25th

Convicted sex offenders should not be prevented from using social networking sites such as MySpace, Scotland Yard said today.

The Metropolitan Police was responding to an announcement by MySpace that it had removed 29,000 convicted sex offenders from its user base in America after cross-checking its members against publicly available sex offender databases.

The Met said it had no plans to share information about sex offenders with sites such as MySpace and Bebo with a view to having the profiles of such people taken down, as has happened in several states in America.

"Just because you're a convicted offender doesn't mean you're still offending," a spokeswoman said. "Why would we pursue them in this way? These are people who have served their time."

Scotland Yard's position was backed up by the Home Office

OK so here some garda in Phoenix Park has probably mislaid the fax from MySpace (Gardai don't quite do email) so we've to rely on the UK for debate.

So should convicted sex offenders be allowed use Bebo, MySpace etc ?

This kinda goes as to what we view prison to be for, when a debt is repaid etc. My take on this is roughly:

The internet isn't that different to the real world except deceipts are done differently so I'd propose this law for Ireland:

A convicted sex offender may never lie or mislead about their age on the Internet - furthermore where they have a standard option to publish their age they ought

I think that would be fair & prudent ?

cYp

[Libero]

Remember that in America, MySpace is taking down the profiles of the users it knows to be convicted sex offenders.

There is no law against convicted sex offenders using social networking sites.

So the question is not about whether sex offenders should be allowed use the sites (we have constitutionally-protected freedom of expression for a start) but whether or not the police should communicate with the web sites so the sites voluntarily remove the profiles.

It seems to me that if the police do take such a stance, convicted sex offenders will simply register web site profiles with false names or the usual bebo-style nonsense user name like Frosty74. Then, even if details of offenders are supplied by the police, the web site won't have much idea which of their essentially anonymous users correspond to the real-world identities.

As for having laws against misleading communications by sex offenders, we already have laws against soliciting illegal sex and 'grooming'. That should cover the area, not piecemeal legislation prohibiting potentially innocent behaviour like lying about one's age (what if it's exaggerated upwards!?).

[JCSkinner]

It's time to get your kids off myspace and, if they must use social networking sites, send them to bebo.

http://skinflicks.blogspot.com/2007/07/ ... space.html

[Pidge]

Facebook'd be a better one for safety, JC.

This whole thing is a bit silly. Someone can easily re-register under any name they like. Even if the IPs are blocked, they can still use a proxy. If you're not comfortable with someone looking at your photos, don't put them on the internet.

[JCSkinner]

Facebook is somewhat more adult in terms of its target market, I understand. It is possible that they also offer a greater degree of online safety, but I know little about it.
Of the two social networking sites used by kids in Ireland, clearly Bebo is the more responsible.
Personally, I don't use any of them, and don't permit my kid to either. But people ought to be aware of the risks online, and at least Bebo are trying to make people aware.

[Pidge]

Personally, I don't use any of them, and don't permit my kid to either.

Without meaning to pry or anything, can I ask why?

[JCSkinner]

There are other, better ways to stay in touch with family and friends. Personal interaction in a real world setting, ya dig?

[Pidge]

There are other, better ways to stay in touch with family and friends. Personal interaction in a real world setting, ya dig?

Aye. To be honest, I've found that Bebo/Facebook is a supplement - not a hindrance. I don't, for example, know anyone who avoids a social situation to use Bebo.

[JCSkinner]

But it's not that healthy for a kid to be hanging out of the computer all day, especially when there is an online safety issue involved. Far better to get out into the street and play with their actual, real life friends.
Wanna communicate with someone further afield? I find email and the telephone to be great for that. They have the added benefit over social networking sites that they are entirely private modes of communication too.
I also find that my blog satisfies any urges I have to express myself online. That and ranting in here, of course!
As for my offspring, I just don't see any good reason for her to be on something like myspace, and quite a few reasons why she shouldn't. Perhaps we'll revisit that in a few years' time when she's older.

[Armchair Activist]

It seems to me that if the police do take such a stance, convicted sex offenders will simply register web site profiles with false names or the usual bebo-style nonsense user name like Frosty74. Then, even if details of offenders are supplied by the police, the web site won't have much idea which of their essentially anonymous users correspond to the real-world identities.

It’s not rocket science to trace an IP address back to the person on the end of an internet connection. It is possible (even practice) for the authorities to monitor all internet activity taken by potential or known criminals.

If anything the internet leads to easier assessment of sex offender activities!