Social Networks Answering the Call
New York Attorney General, Andrew Cuomo, announced that 13 more social networks, including Google, Yahoo, and AOL, have committed to removing sex offenders from their platforms. The initiative is an expansion of Attorney General Cuomo’s prior directive that led to Facebook and MySpace purging over 3,500 registered sex offenders last week.
Making Use of e-STOP Law
Attorney General Cuomo’s initiative makes use of New York’s e-STOP law. As of today, 15 major social networking sites have pledged to implement this law, which obligates sex offenders to register their online identities with the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services. The registered information is shared with the social networks, facilitating the removal of sex offenders from these platforms.
Aiming for a Safer Internet
“The perversion of social networking sites by sexual predators to manipulate victims and infiltrate their lives is well known,” Cuomo stated. The e-STOP law provides these platforms with a powerful tool to identify and deter these sexual predators, preventing potential harm.
Cuomo emphasized that “e-STOP’s deployment on the most popular social networking sites is a crucial step towards a safer Internet.” He strongly criticized companies neglecting the use of the e-STOP database, calling it “not only inexcusable but potentially dangerous.”
Applauding Commitment to Safety
Cuomo applauded Google (Orkut.com), Yahoo (Flickr.com), AOL (Bebo.com), and several others for utilizing the e-STOP data and demonstrating a commitment to online safety. He urged all social networks to follow suit in making the Internet a safer place.
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