Attorney Generals from 8 States requested that MySpace should release all the
names of registered sex offenders that has an MySpace account, citing that in a
recent study, more and more sex offenders and pedophiles are surfing
MySpace..... and pose an significant threat to children that are members there.
The study came out a couple days ago and the request was made yesterday, so
today MySpace refuses to give the names of the registered sex
offenders!
Then guess what?
MySpace then deletes the profiles of "a few thousand" CONVICTED sex
offenders profiles they had on the site!
Then they are adding new software that will block sex offenders from accessing
MySpace!
One. Why didn't MySpace ask for a court
order then released the names? It's true that this has to be done Federally, but
nevertheless they would have complied with the request latter.
Two. Why did MySpace turn down the
request and then deleted the profiles of "a few thousand" sex
offenders? "A FEW THOUSAND" is enough to throw up enough red flags so
that you can see it from space! Who is Myspace trying to protect, and who is to
say that they still have "a few thousand more"?
Three. How the hell can MySpace protect
children who frequent there by adding software that can block registered sex
offenders? All they have to do is change their name, date of birth, where they
live...etc. It is also dangerous to request personal info like Social Security
Numberd, due to identity theft; all a hacker has to do is to infiltrate the
database and he has credit and you won't!
MySpace screwed up and I am glad my son is not an active member there.
I think the same ease with which a sex offender can create false online
identities also makes it difficult for Myspace to verify that a person it
suspects actually is a questionable individual. I suspect that this is the
reason Myspace is refusing to turn over the list - it simply cannot be sure that
everyone on the list actually deserve to be there and it does not want to be
sued by innocent people who suddenly find themselves labeled "sex
offenders."
Ultimately, it's a lose-lose situation for Myspace. But that really is beside
the point. Parents should exercise much more caution in allowing their underage
children access to such wide-open social networking sites. Whether Myspace turns
over the list of names does not really resolve the threat to children.
Agreed, anything to do with sex offenders needs to be very carefully handled.
Most importantly if you accuse the wrong person lives can be destroyed, secondly
if you publicise every one of them, someone (the sex offender) is probably going
to be hurt. Although many deserve to be hurt (imho) some may have changed their
ways.
The word 'registered' sex offenders would suggest to me that the government
would be keeping tabs on many of their home internet usage anyway (especially
paedophiles offenders), and it's the unregistered sex offenders that pose the
bigger problem.
As much as I hate the site, I'm on Myspaces side in there decision.
Your first question I'm unsure on although I would think it evolves around the
fact they might get it wrong.
As for your second if the usernames were going to be publicly published, they
have no obligation/right to release the names of these offenders unless ordered
to do so by national government itself. In terms of public knowledge, people
shouldn't have any right to know unless they're exposed to them. Therefore by
deciding to remove and block the users Myspace is effectively removing the
threat, although the larger one of unregistered remains. What can be done to
stop an unregistered predator?
In terms of protecting children, as in second paragraph, the government would be
keeping a much closer eye on registered paedophiles. Blocking at least their
home access to the site shouldn't be to difficult of a task (unless they also
know a bit of hacking). More importantly children should be educated by parents
and/or teachers that people can and DO fake their identity.
Rather than saying Myspace screwed up, we can safely conclude the internet is
screwed up and that the uneducated user falls prey to it. Myspace is just an
unfortunate case where it's not hard to become lost in the crowd, banning a few
thousand is actually a decent figure.
i think kids on myspace should be more aware of who might be looking at their
myspace. Also, kids shouldn't have a myspace in the first place. if you're like
12, you should be on myspace posting pictures of you posing in ways that make
people think stuff. but of course it's not only the kid's fault. it's a 2 way
thing. but there are some really messed up people out there.
Well, after a huge petition started by the members of MySpace, the company
decided to give up the names of the sex offenders that have made a profile on
their site. Its sad that the members had to stand up and demand this when the
company was clearly trying to hide these indivisuals. Keep in mind that these
indivisuals are court ordered to stay away from places that has kids or caters
to them....even internet sites. However there is one site that caters to
pedophiles based in Washington State, but they moved its servers to Vancouver,
BC to avoid getting shut down. These sickos even show where they can find
children, such as parks and recreation areas. They'll get shut down soon
enough.
Quote: Rather than saying Myspace
screwed up, we can safely conclude the internet is screwed up and that the
uneducated user falls prey to it. Myspace is just an unfortunate case where it's
not hard to become lost in the crowd, banning a few thousand is actually a
decent figure.
Sadly everything online really is screwed
up... I just have to say Myspace was just a poor victim of it.
What I find is that most users don't realize that everything that goes on the
internet stays on the internet and is then public information. The NSA has
pretty much all your info whether or not they care for it. It's also sad that
people don't realize that you can hack out so much information that can be used
against you online.
This and the Mix-It thingie on mobile phones is a tremendously huge problem in
South Africa. It is sad to think that the wonderful possibilities these
technologies can offer humankind is also there for the sick-minded individuals
to abuse and destroy innocent lives.
Just this week it was in our newspaper headlines about a man who sexually
assulted his 8 year old daughter and released on R500.00 bail (about US$72).
In this country you can go to jail for not paying your television licence, yet
it would seem it is fine to rape and abuse children and get off with a mere slap
on the wrist.
Earlier in the year a couple was sentenced to 3 months suspende sentence for
burning their 2 year old daughters hands on a hot stove plate because she
misbehaved. Sick!
I understand that it is a huge problem on the internet this day, but what really
gets to me is how people that have Myspace accounts especially young don't set
their profiles to private it's as easy as that, you DON'T have to add everyone
to your "friend list" so they can view your account.
Plus, when you change your profile to public Myspace sends you a message telling
you how dangerous it can be with people watching your profile freely...
As for the sex offenders many of them are restricted by their parol officers no
to get near the computer.
I do think Myspace should have taken a faster action to inform the public but as
I said earlier the problem would be solve it everyone under 18 had private
accounts, I have one and it is private, and I don't add people as my
"friends" if I don't know them as easy as that...
Wow...I'm a VERY active member on MySpace, so this just hits home. Still, I've
known the dangers of the Internet since way before becoming a MySpace member. I
dunno...I'm very open about myself and I tell a lot about myself in my blogs. I
guess that really CAN be dangerous :/ My uncle warned me about it too, but I
think I can trust myself to stay away from strangers to and from
school.
I suppose MySpace should have more restrictions as to who can have an account
and who can't. They should also put up more security for their members. What,
exactly? I don't quite know, actually. I personally think they've done all they
could.
Now that is a rare case. Why is it myspace didn't release the names? And you are
right, even if they have the software the sex offenders still can access. I
think the government or someone should do something. I'm surprised that they let
things settle even myspace refuse to release the profiles and worse, they even
delete them. Those people should be eliminated from the Internet, they can hurt
other people.
This is one of the darker sides of the "Internet". Used by both law
abiding citizens and the "perps". Until they (the Internet gurus) come
up with a sure fire CPU that disquineshes between the perps and the law abiding
citizens. It will be hard to identify them (the sexual predators). Granted the
rights of the individuals is always in question. The sexual predators will
always push the envelope on the internet as off.
The best way to avoid this madness is to stay off the internet, whether
"MySpace", "Windows Live", or any other chat room
service.
Unfortuantely, we as individuals should not let the sexual preds rule us.
Since MySpace doesn't want to share the names of the sexual preds to the
authorities, then all parents, children and individuals need to keep themselves
protected from them. They are in like sexual terrorists. Hey don't laugh !
They use the internet for their dark secrets and lies.
Kinda like this, enjoy the internet folks, but do it at your own risk (s).
Now this is some B.S.!
Attorney Generals from 8 States requested that MySpace should release all the names of registered sex offenders that has an MySpace account, citing that in a recent study, more and more sex offenders and pedophiles are surfing MySpace..... and pose an significant threat to children that are members there. The study came out a couple days ago and the request was made yesterday, so today MySpace refuses to give the names of the registered sex offenders!
Then guess what?
MySpace then deletes the profiles of "a few thousand" CONVICTED sex offenders profiles they had on the site!
Then they are adding new software that will block sex offenders from accessing MySpace!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18659577/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18699520/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18686463/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16056003
One. Why didn't MySpace ask for a court order then released the names? It's true that this has to be done Federally, but nevertheless they would have complied with the request latter.
Two. Why did MySpace turn down the request and then deleted the profiles of "a few thousand" sex offenders? "A FEW THOUSAND" is enough to throw up enough red flags so that you can see it from space! Who is Myspace trying to protect, and who is to say that they still have "a few thousand more"?
Three. How the hell can MySpace protect children who frequent there by adding software that can block registered sex offenders? All they have to do is change their name, date of birth, where they live...etc. It is also dangerous to request personal info like Social Security Numberd, due to identity theft; all a hacker has to do is to infiltrate the database and he has credit and you won't!
MySpace screwed up and I am glad my son is not an active member there.
So what is you guys take on this?
I think the same ease with which a sex offender can create false online identities also makes it difficult for Myspace to verify that a person it suspects actually is a questionable individual. I suspect that this is the reason Myspace is refusing to turn over the list - it simply cannot be sure that everyone on the list actually deserve to be there and it does not want to be sued by innocent people who suddenly find themselves labeled "sex offenders."
Ultimately, it's a lose-lose situation for Myspace. But that really is beside the point. Parents should exercise much more caution in allowing their underage children access to such wide-open social networking sites. Whether Myspace turns over the list of names does not really resolve the threat to children.
Agreed, anything to do with sex offenders needs to be very carefully handled. Most importantly if you accuse the wrong person lives can be destroyed, secondly if you publicise every one of them, someone (the sex offender) is probably going to be hurt. Although many deserve to be hurt (imho) some may have changed their ways.
The word 'registered' sex offenders would suggest to me that the government would be keeping tabs on many of their home internet usage anyway (especially paedophiles offenders), and it's the unregistered sex offenders that pose the bigger problem.
As much as I hate the site, I'm on Myspaces side in there decision.
Your first question I'm unsure on although I would think it evolves around the fact they might get it wrong.
As for your second if the usernames were going to be publicly published, they have no obligation/right to release the names of these offenders unless ordered to do so by national government itself. In terms of public knowledge, people shouldn't have any right to know unless they're exposed to them. Therefore by deciding to remove and block the users Myspace is effectively removing the threat, although the larger one of unregistered remains. What can be done to stop an unregistered predator?
In terms of protecting children, as in second paragraph, the government would be keeping a much closer eye on registered paedophiles. Blocking at least their home access to the site shouldn't be to difficult of a task (unless they also know a bit of hacking). More importantly children should be educated by parents and/or teachers that people can and DO fake their identity.
Rather than saying Myspace screwed up, we can safely conclude the internet is screwed up and that the uneducated user falls prey to it. Myspace is just an unfortunate case where it's not hard to become lost in the crowd, banning a few thousand is actually a decent figure.
i think kids on myspace should be more aware of who might be looking at their myspace. Also, kids shouldn't have a myspace in the first place. if you're like 12, you should be on myspace posting pictures of you posing in ways that make people think stuff. but of course it's not only the kid's fault. it's a 2 way thing. but there are some really messed up people out there.
Well, after a huge petition started by the members of MySpace, the company decided to give up the names of the sex offenders that have made a profile on their site. Its sad that the members had to stand up and demand this when the company was clearly trying to hide these indivisuals. Keep in mind that these indivisuals are court ordered to stay away from places that has kids or caters to them....even internet sites. However there is one site that caters to pedophiles based in Washington State, but they moved its servers to Vancouver, BC to avoid getting shut down. These sickos even show where they can find children, such as parks and recreation areas. They'll get shut down soon enough.
Sadly everything online really is screwed up... I just have to say Myspace was just a poor victim of it.
What I find is that most users don't realize that everything that goes on the internet stays on the internet and is then public information. The NSA has pretty much all your info whether or not they care for it. It's also sad that people don't realize that you can hack out so much information that can be used against you online.
This and the Mix-It thingie on mobile phones is a tremendously huge problem in South Africa. It is sad to think that the wonderful possibilities these technologies can offer humankind is also there for the sick-minded individuals to abuse and destroy innocent lives.
Just this week it was in our newspaper headlines about a man who sexually assulted his 8 year old daughter and released on R500.00 bail (about US$72).
In this country you can go to jail for not paying your television licence, yet it would seem it is fine to rape and abuse children and get off with a mere slap on the wrist.
Earlier in the year a couple was sentenced to 3 months suspende sentence for burning their 2 year old daughters hands on a hot stove plate because she misbehaved. Sick!
I understand that it is a huge problem on the internet this day, but what really gets to me is how people that have Myspace accounts especially young don't set their profiles to private it's as easy as that, you DON'T have to add everyone to your "friend list" so they can view your account.
Plus, when you change your profile to public Myspace sends you a message telling you how dangerous it can be with people watching your profile freely...
As for the sex offenders many of them are restricted by their parol officers no to get near the computer.
I do think Myspace should have taken a faster action to inform the public but as I said earlier the problem would be solve it everyone under 18 had private accounts, I have one and it is private, and I don't add people as my "friends" if I don't know them as easy as that...
Wow...I'm a VERY active member on MySpace, so this just hits home. Still, I've known the dangers of the Internet since way before becoming a MySpace member. I dunno...I'm very open about myself and I tell a lot about myself in my blogs. I guess that really CAN be dangerous :/ My uncle warned me about it too, but I think I can trust myself to stay away from strangers to and from school.
I suppose MySpace should have more restrictions as to who can have an account and who can't. They should also put up more security for their members. What, exactly? I don't quite know, actually. I personally think they've done all they could.
Now that is a rare case. Why is it myspace didn't release the names? And you are right, even if they have the software the sex offenders still can access. I think the government or someone should do something. I'm surprised that they let things settle even myspace refuse to release the profiles and worse, they even delete them. Those people should be eliminated from the Internet, they can hurt other people.
This is one of the darker sides of the "Internet". Used by both law abiding citizens and the "perps". Until they (the Internet gurus) come up with a sure fire CPU that disquineshes between the perps and the law abiding citizens. It will be hard to identify them (the sexual predators). Granted the rights of the individuals is always in question. The sexual predators will always push the envelope on the internet as off.
The best way to avoid this madness is to stay off the internet, whether "MySpace", "Windows Live", or any other chat room service.
Unfortuantely, we as individuals should not let the sexual preds rule us.
Since MySpace doesn't want to share the names of the sexual preds to the authorities, then all parents, children and individuals need to keep themselves protected from them. They are in like sexual terrorists. Hey don't laugh !
They use the internet for their dark secrets and lies.
Kinda like this, enjoy the internet folks, but do it at your own risk (s).