Jan 14, 2008 6:45 pm US/Eastern
MySpace, 45 States Agree On Child Safety Measures
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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MySpace.com has agreed with New York and 44 other states to add extensive measures to combat sexual predators.
CBS4
MySpace.com took another significant step in cracking down on sexual predators and abusive conduct on its popular social networking site by agreeing Monday with 45 states to create a more policed environment for children.
The changes were announced in Manhattan by New Jersey Attorney General Anne Milgram and the attorneys general for Connecticut and North Carolina as well.
The site plans to create a new and improved method for users to quickly report abusive actions and plans on providing feedback to consumers within 72 hours of receiving complaints.
"MySpace is pleased to work with Attorney General Milgram on Internet safety matters including the development of a standardized reporting abuse mechanism, an area where she is a true leader," said MySpace Chief Security Officer Hemanshu Nigam in a statement.
The site also agreed to consider placing a tool on every content-containing page for users to report abusive activity. The mechanism would give members a selection of categories detailing the type of abuse and allow site officials to acknowledge the report within 24 hours.
In addition, the site plans on putting together a task force that would explore newer and more stringent methods to verify the ages and identities of its users. MySpace officials hope other social networking sites will join in their fight to keep sexual predators away.
"The Internet can be a dangerous place for children and young adults, with sexual predators surfing social networking sites in search of potential victims, and cyber bullies sending threatening and anonymous messages,'' Attorney General Milgram said in a statement.
MySpace officials promise to report back to the attorneys general every three months and issue a formal report with findings and recommendations from its task force at the end of 2008.
Other specific changes and policies that MySpace agreed to develop include: allowing parents to submit their children's email addresses so MySpace can prevent anyone using those email addresses from setting up profiles; making the default setting "private" for profiles of 16- and 17-year-olds; promising to respond within 72 hours to inappropriate content complaints and committing more staff and/or resources to review and classify photographs and discussion groups.
MySpace also agreed to work to implement the following:
- Strengthen software identifying underage users;
- Retain a contractor to better identify and expunge inappropriate images;
- Obtain and constantly update a list of pornographic web sites and regularly sever any links between them and MySpace;
- Implement changes making it harder for adults to contact children;
- Dedicate meaningful resources to educating children and parents about on-line safety;
- Create a closed "high school" section for users under 18.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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