Social Networking Sites Removing NY Sex Offenders
December 14, 2009 by Ramon B. Nuez Jr.
Filed under Featured Content, New Media
New York’s Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, (e-STOP) is focused on the prevention of sex crimes against minors who access social networking sites. e-STOP would authorize NY to provide companies with user names, e-mail addresses and Internet providers – for all registered sex offenders. e-STOP now gives these companies the authority to bar access to Internet services and advise government entities, including law enforcement of any potential threats to public safety.
Facebook and MySpace have already used e-STOP to remove NY sex offenders. Following their lead 13 more social networking sites of done the same. The 13 sites are BlackPlanet.com, Yahoo’s Flickr.com, AOL’s Bebo.com, Flixster.com, Classmates.com, Fotolog.com, Hi5.com, MyLife.com, Multiply.com, are Google’s Orkut.com, Tagged.com, Imeem.com and Stickam.com.
“The country’s most popular social networking sites have taken an important step in making the Internet safer by using e-STOP to purge sex offenders from their sites. That some companies are continuing to ignore the e-STOP database is not only inexcusable, it is potentially dangerous,” Andrew Cuomo was stated as saying.
As a parent, I give thanks to these 15 sites. I give thanks because we are all part of this new digital community. The community is vast and dynamic – making it very difficult for even the most astute parent, to keep their children safe from harm. There is nothing more vile than the harm that these convicted sex offenders can do – to our children, families and communities. Why would companies purposely ignore e-STOP is ” not only inexcusable” but “it is potentially dangerous.”
Author: Ramon B. Nuez Jr. (53 Articles)
Ramon is a contributing writer to The Huffington Post (www.huffingtonpost.com/ramon-nuez). He covers the net neutrality debates, broadband ubiquity and the emergence of new media. Ramon has also guest lectured at the NYU School of Continuing Education -- on social media, social networks and new media. In collaboration with Zev Green of Co-Founder of GoFamous and Robert Holmes of RobbeTheGeek.Com -- Ramon is producing a podcast called New Media Brief. In this podcast the three will be discussing topics ranging from social media to new media to personal technology. Ramon is a firm advocate of Charity: Water. He strongly believes in Scott Harrison’s message and purpose. In 2009 he ran a personal but small campaign to raise money for Charity: Water.