29,000 Sex Offenders Have MySpace Profiles

Social-Networking Site Reported Just 7,000 Offenders Two Months Ago

(CBS/AP)  MySpace.com has found more than 29,000 registered sex offenders with profiles on the popular social networking Web site, more than four times the number cited by the company two months ago, North Carolina officials said Tuesday.

North Carolina's Roy Cooper is one of several attorneys general who recently demanded the News Corp.-owned Web site provide data on how many registered sex offenders were using the popular social networking site, along with information about where they live.

After initially withholding the information, citing federal privacy laws, MySpace began sharing the information in May after the states filed formal legal requests.

At the time, MySpace said it had already used a database it helped create to remove about 7,000 profiles of sex offenders, out of a total of about 180 million profiles on the site.

Cooper's office said Tuesday, however, that now the figure has risen past 29,000.

Two MySpace spokeswomen did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Cooper is pushing for a state law that would require children to receive parental permission before creating social networking profiles, and require the Web sites to verify the parents' identity and age. For example, social networking sites would have to compare information provided by a parent with commercial databases. Sites could also force parents to submit credit cards or printed forms.

Cooper is working with law enforcement officials in other states in pressuring MySpace to use age and identity verification methods voluntarily. Based on media reports, Cooper's office found more than 100 criminal incidents this year of adults using MySpace to prey or attempt to prey on children.

A Virginia man pleaded guilty Monday to kidnapping and soliciting a 14-year old girl he met on MySpace.

"All we're doing is giving parents the right to make a choice whether their children can go online," Cooper told a state House committee considering the bill on parental involvement and verification. He said the measure would lead to "fewer children at risk, because there will be fewer children on those Web sites."

A number of states, including Texas, have moved aggressively to round up suspected sex offenders known to be using the networking site, reports CBS News correspondent Bob Orr.

MySpace will not confirm any numbers, Orr adds, but says it's has already successfully identified and removed sex offenders from its site.

Advocates for Internet companies and privacy issues testified against the proposed restrictions, saying the broad parental verification standards would be found unconstitutional because they prohibit free speech or impede interstate commerce. The experts who testified also said Cooper's idea isn't foolproof, because children could fabricate their parents' information and purported consent.

The parental verification requirement "makes promises to consumers that cannot be kept. It is dangerous language," said Emily Hackett, executive director of the Washington-based Internet Alliance, whose clients include Time Warner Inc.'s AOL, Yahoo Inc. and VeriSign Inc. "There is no way to eyeball a user."

The bill has already passed the North Carolina Senate. Now it goes to a House subcommittee for more consideration.

State Sen. Walter Dalton, a Democrat who is a primary sponsor of the bill, acknowledged that it won't stop all sexual predators from getting on social networking sites. But he said it addresses a problem that shouldn't be ignored, Dalton said.

"There is obviously a compelling state interest to protect our children from sexual predators," he said.

[phydeux1]

Thank you HISSTEPS for showing just how intolerant America has become. I agree with Norsha that MOST registered *** offenders who have paid their debt to society should be allowed to live their lives without constant harassment. Most registered *** offenders DO try to lead a normal life and don't have any interest in harming anyone again, but that doesn't make headlines.

There is a VERY SMALL minority of *** offenders who are habitual and predatory, but when you look at the actual numbers from law enforcement (NOT THE MEDIA!) you'll see that they constitute a very small number. The problem is, the media focuses so much on these few and statistically rare incidents that they've got you tricked into thinking its an epidemic of biblical proportions.

But your children are largely quite safe. And they'll be safer still if you EDUCATE them, MONITOR them, and keep up on who's talking to them. You don't want them talking to strangers in public places, why let them do it on the internet? Be responsible for your children's behavior and you won't have to worry about the media's bogeyman of the decade.

[roxie6861]

THIS ALL HAS GONE TOO FAR , NOT EVERYONE IS THE SAME IF YOU ARE WHITE ARE YOU JUST LIKE THE OTHER WHITE PERSON, NOT ALL PEOPLE ON THE *** OFFENDERS LIST ARE THE SAME , PEOPLE NEED TO GET A CLUE AND STOP JUDGING OTHER POEPLE WHO DIE AND LEFT YOU F'N BOSS WATCH YOUR OWN KIDS KIDS SHOULD NOT BE ON THE COMPUTER ANYWAY THEY SHOULD BE OUTSIDE IN THEIR OWN YARD PLAYING AND USING THEIR IMAGINATION LIKE WE DID

[michellem99-2009]

There are parental controls people on the computers. Use them.. To the postee who is pissed at the fact some words are not spellt out is the software put this *** in place of the word that he/she wrote. It is not us. You must be new.

[generation15]

Sure parents need to moniter their kids online, but it can't be 24/7 as the kids can get around pretty much any block a parent can put up. Very sad, but very true. Parents and the government need to work together to keep kids safe from these online sexual predators.

[michellem99-2009]

Their software. I was on another site where they had a problem with my legal name Michelle.. I was told it has the word hell ,h3ll in my mane. I was not happy with their answer. I had to use a different name. Dumb. Yes. We use the right words and this*** for words that are not naughty but proper words...'member the programming years ago . It has gotten to the point that it was over words and it is the same today. It is phoney. We hears the words and they go OMG did you hear that..I would perfer that women cover up on TV. Girls watch and want to dress the same.. I can understand that some words are rude. I looked up the words and yes kids should not say them.

[shanev137]

Has anyone even bothered asking the question as to what criteria Myspace is using to determine who a s e x offender is?

Maybe all of you are s e x offenders and you just don't know it yet.

[harp1963]

Only in America!

I'm sure though, that Rush, John Boy and Billie, and Rupert Murdoch will report this has just come about since the Democrats took office, all sexual deviants didn't exist during the six years the Republicans had control of the Congress and Senate. We all know the Republicans are the moral party and they would have done something about this, right?

[dbrunk57]

SORRY, I didn't know CBS would bleep (***) the S-E-X word. now that IS bad. Shame on you CBS. If you want us to post comments then you should let us do so.

[dbrunk57]

What gets me after reading a few of these posts, is the number of people that are afraid to either spell out or even type the word "***". It just shows you how screwed our society is.

[dbrunk57]

What gets me after reading a few of these posts, is the number of people that are afraid to either spell out or even type the word "***". It just shows you how screwed our society is.

[dbrunk57]

What gets me after reading a few of these posts, is the number of people that are afraid to either spell out or even type the word "***". It just shows you how screwed our society is.

[dbrunk57]

What gets me after reading a few of these posts, is the number of people that are afraid to either spell out or even type the word "***". It just shows you how screwed our society is.

[hissteps4u]

Norsha may your children be contacted by one of these Molesters and may you then learn why they have to register in the first place even though it does not good they still offend and cant wait to do it again they are sick and MY Space needs to shut them down Imeadiately.

Your a liberal wimp and your words are worthless and you lack even the basic understanding of decency

[jetranger7]

I left my Space many Many months ago, Why ???? Because there was way too many Teenage Girls on their, advertising for Video-*** Chat, to the point it was Ridlicious !!! What was supposed to be a good thing, has turned into a Total Joke ! Not to mention there was also Sick Perverts on there, along with the young Teenage Video Girls, who were advertising, to come on line with them, then they're was also the Hackers who'd hack your computer and install viruses and trojans on your computer thru file sharing,, site just became too Ridlicious and Pathetic ! I deleted my account many many months ago, and am glad I did, the site just plain Sucks !!!

[norshatakaha]

Why shouldnt s@x offenders be allowed on My Space? Get the kids off my space not make the adults suffer for being adults.

Registered S@x offenders have paid for their crimes. Police the kids and leave the offenders alone. It is already enough shame for them to have to register.

Did you know if you get caught flashing your hooters on mardi gra, you have to register as a s@x offender?

Its a huge shame that moral america wants everyone registered no matter the crime. They dilute the true offender list with playful shinanigans.

[michellem99-2009]

Parents need to put children's computer in the areas where They can watch their children's on line usage..Parents can't be that dumb to not know what is going on. Parents there are books you can buy books to teach you the basics. I am 52.there are people scared of computers. I know of some. Parents step upto the plate on this as they are your boys and girls.Do your duties as care takers. Be nosey.Keep them safe.Get in their face.Parents. I was abused as a foster child by a foster father who would not keep hands off me.Everyone turnt a blind mind to it and this was pre computer.He knew I could not see his face. I truly dislike preditors as they should not be on the streets.

[lrosen9999]

Unbelievable! The moral panic screamers just won't give up and face the facts.

In June 2007 MySpace had over 70 MILLION unique visitors. OK, so they removed 29 THOUSAND *** offender profiles. That is 4/100ths of a percent!!! In addition, from my studies of well over 2500 MySpacers, nearly all told me that when faced with a "solicitation" they act appropriately and block the person or report him to Tom. When asked if these episodes are upsetting the vast majority say it does not upset them at all.

I am appalled that people keep focusing on MySpace as a hotbed of sexual predators soliciting teens. It is not. It is all an issue of good parenting. Please visit my website at www.csudh.edu/psych/lrosen.htm for my research and information on my upcoming book Me, MySpace and I: Parenting the Net Generation.

Thank you for allowing me to post this comment.

LR

[mercyme884]

This place never , ever amazes me more than today. I can't believe there that adult humans would praise these perverts and talk about how they are so misunderstood.And no one understands how they are treated because they had *** with a ten year old child. They didn't want to kill them afterward but poor things were afraid the child would tell, so they put the kid in a garbage bag and bury them alive.Poor,poor things maybe they should be done like that.You parents best watch over your kids the perverted slimeballs are out there just looking for some unprotected child.

[sharncedar]

One of the phoniest parts of this is that certain common and non-serious crimes such as minor spousal abuse (a loud argument for example)have been classified as "s$x crimes". I think even some hate speech or consensual s$x type situations with say a 19-year-old with a 17-year-old are classified as "s$x crimes" by the current system. This makes it hard to deal with and protect ourselves from the far fewer but more dangerous child abusers or rapists.

If the government and our leaders (such as the male-hating academic and judicial systems) started being a little more honest then we all would be able to help and protect each other better. But it is more important for liberals to score political points than it is to protect innocent women and children. They would rather have draconian inappropriate penalties applied to slightly abusive husbands, even if that means we end up with so many "s$x offenders" on the official rolls that we can't keep track of the real predators.

good luck any of that changing with hillary getting in office; they will probably start adding 10-year-olds who use the word "b-itch" to the s$x offender category with her hate-filled apporach to government. The net result is real creeps slip through in the chaos and hyperbole.

[lastdance2]

Even : "J. Edgar Hoover" (FBI Director)
Often enjoyed : A romp in bed with : "Young Boys"

Video tapped - Statements : From former - "FBI" - Agents :
Describing how - They Delivered Young Boys - For S*e*x*
Is evidence to that ! ! ! !"
Solicitation - Prostitution - Pimps" The FBI - (Exposed -Uncovered)
In one of it's Most - "Genuine - Honest - Moments"
_________
Research :The Secret Life of J Edgar Hoover
copy and paste (Google)
_________

If those Young Boys - Came from : Juvenile Detention Centers.
They may - "Not" - of had any - Choice in the matter
That activity - Now turns into a : S*e*x* - Slave Trafficking Operation.
of Young Boys.

Feel Betrayed ? ? ? : Ask those (once) "Young Boys" - How they felt
Being - S*e*x* u*a*l*l*y - Used and - S*e*x* u*a*l*l*y Abused by :
Members of the - "The Justice Department"

Who Said the : "FBI" Is - "Not" - A Criminal Organization ! ! ! !

Lastdance