MySpace will no longer be a safe harbor for convicted sex offenders trolling for unsuspecting victims. MySpace has agreed to share information with law enforcement and they will be working to rid the site of registered sex offenders entirely. Once the accounts are deleted, any and all personal information will be handed over to the cops.
Implications - All the information on sexual predators will be sent to all 50 states' Attorney Generals. A program called the Sentinel SAFE Program will be used by a social network site owned by Fox to exploit sex offenders. It will report information collected from the deleted accounts to authorities.
The web has alway been fairly dangerous when it comes to meeting people online. It's good to see that the issue is being tackled seriously.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Safe Social Networks
- The trend of social networks taking responsibility for user safety, by sharing information with law enforcement, is growing.
- Sentinel SAFE Program
- The trend of using programs like the Sentinel SAFE Program to track and report information on sex offenders is growing.
- Online Safety Regulations
- The trend of implementing regulations to ensure the safety of users on online platforms is increasing.
Where This Applies
- Social Networking
- Social networking platforms have an opportunity to innovate by taking a proactive stance on user safety and implementing measures to ensure a safe environment.
- Law Enforcement
- Law enforcement agencies have an opportunity to be more effective in combating sexual crimes online by partnering with social networks and utilizing programs like the Sentinel SAFE Program.
- Regulatory Compliance
- Online platforms have an opportunity to stay ahead of regulations by implementing safety measures and being proactive about reporting information on convicted sex offenders.
