Welcome | Sign In
ECommerceTimes.com
Social Networking

Connecticut Calls for Legal Controls on Social Networking

Print Version
E-Mail Article
Reprints
Connecticut Calls for Legal Controls on Social Networking

Despite efforts on the part of MySpace.com to reassure the public that it is taking steps to keep sexual predators away from young social networkers, Connecticut lawmakers want to make stronger protective measures the law. Under a new proposal, Web sites that fail to verify ages and obtain parental consent for users under 18 would face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.


Tips to Integrate Social Media into Your Day-to-Day Media Monitoring
Is social media part of your PR and marketing strategy? This white paper is filled with tips on how to listen to conversations about your brand in the media (social media, print, TV and internet) using the latest tools and techniques. Download Now.

Connecticut lawmakers are pushing a bill that would require social networking sites such as MySpace.com to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent for minors who want to post profiles.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, along with Democratic and Republican leaders of the General Law Committee, introduced the legislation on Wednesday, a day after a Connecticut man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for using MySpace to set up a sexual meeting with an 11-year-old Connecticut girl.

The conviction came in one of several federal cases involving alleged sexual predators using the popular networking Web site to lure minors.

Steep Fines Proposed

Under the Connecticut proposal, Web sites that fail to verify ages and fail to obtain parental permission to post profiles of users under 18 face civil penalties of up to US$5,000 per violation.

"The technology is available," said Blumenthal. "The solution is financially feasible, practically doable. If we can put a man on the moon, we can check ages of people on these Web sites."

States' Rights

Connecticut and many other states have jurisdiction under consumer protection laws, Blumenthal said, because advertisements posted on the social networking Web sites are viewed in the state and therefore are subject to state law.

After meeting with other attorneys general on Tuesday, he reported that up to 44 states were considering similar legislation.

"Strong interest in this measure was expressed to me by other attorneys general at our national meeting yesterday," said Blumenthal. "In Connecticut, at least six alleged sexual assaults involving older men and underage girls have been tied to MySpace in the last year."

Not a Slam Dunk

However, Blumenthal can expect plenty of opposition to the bill. Social networking has become big business, and teenagers drive a good deal Increase Customer Sales with Email Marketing -- Free Trial from VerticalResponse of profits, Mukul Krishna, an analyst with Frost & Sullivan, told TechNewsWorld.

"Look at demographics," said Krishna. "Most of the ad revenue is generated by young people. As soon as they start legislating it, subscriptions will drop and the business model will get destroyed. Membership would come down, and click through would come down, and advertisers would lose interest."

Better Approach?

MySpace Chief Security Officer Hemanshu Nigam has said the company is committed to protecting teens online but does not believe the proposed Connecticut legislation is the best way to do that.

"The most effective means to protect teens online is through a combined approach involving features and tools to make our site safer, educating our users and their parents, and working collaboratively with online safety organizations and companies," Nigam said in a statement.

"We have and will continue to focus considerable resources on developing effective ways to make our site safer. Attorney General Blumenthal's proposal, while well intentioned, is not the answer."

MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., is the largest social networking site, with more than 100 million registered users.


Print Version E-Mail Article Reprints More by Tim Gray


More by Tim Gray

Blockbuster Lowers Subscriptions Rates
June 13, 2007
Blockbuster will now offer a new plan allowing customers to place online orders to rent three movies at a time for $16.99, a dollar less than its previous top-tiered offering, called Total Access. The movies are mailed to the customer. Blockbuster is losing money on the online business but says it will be profitable next year as orders rise.
Toshiba Slashes HD DVD Sales Targets
June 12, 2007
Toshiba now expects to sell 44 percent fewer HD DVD players than forecast this year. The slump comes at a critical time for the company, as the market still has not shown which high definition disc player format will dominate. Blu-ray Disc technology, rival of the HD DVD format, already has a foothold in 170 major companies.
Jobs: We Also Make Computers
June 12, 2007
Apple provided at its annual developer conference a peek at some of the 300 new features of "Leopard," the company's latest operating system, which is slated for October release. The computer maker will also make its Safari Web browser available for users of Microsoft's Windows operating system.
Don't miss a story -- sign up for our FREE e-mail newsletters and view the latest headlines at a glance.
Tech News Flash [ View Sample ]
E-Commerce Minute [ View Sample ]
ECT News Network Weekly Newsletter [ View Sample ]
Shortcuts
ECT News Network Information
Reader Services
Corporate
ECT News Network