Morrison and MySpace Track Registered Sex Offenders

According to an article written by Ron Sylvester, writer for The Wichita Eagle, MySpace agreed to turn over a list of sex offenders to Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison. Recently MySpace has begun tracking and banning registered sex offenders. Morrison and attorneys general from several other states have requested the names of those sex offenders in an effort to ensure they are not violating parole or using computers illegally.

Morrison says he expressed concern about sex offenders using social networking sites last year. He believes they become a tool for sexual predators. MySpace asserts that they have always planned on sharing the information with authorities. Until recently, however, they did not have the technology to do so. Having recently obtained the necessary software, MySpace has now agreed to release the information according to Mike Angus, executive vice president and general counsel for MySpace owner Fox Interactive Media. In a statement released by the company Angus said, "We have zero tolerance for sexual predators on MySpace and took the initiative to create this first-of-its-kind tool ourselves because nothing previously existed." The software become functional on May 2. According to Morrison, it has already identified thousands of users on social networking sites such as MySpace.

Morrison will share the information with law enforcement in Kansas. Law enforcement will in turn use the information to check for parole violations including users who have been banned from using computers or contacting minors by the courts. It is a way to help keep families and children safe from sexual predators. Kansas requires first time offenders to register for a period of ten years which begins the on the date of conviction. Those convicted of an aggravated offense, aggravated trafficking, rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and other more severe offenses, according to Kansas Senate Bill 204, will be required to register for their lifetime.

MySpace continues to search for registered sex offenders and will turn over email addresses and IP addresses to authorities. In Kansas, the legislature passed a bill requiring sex offenders to register those email addresses and online identities with law enforcement. Morrison endorsed the law.

Attorneys general from all 50 states and Puerto Rico have filed requests with MySpace and other social networking sites to release information to them. In addition, the have requested that MySpace obtain parental permission for children to create profiles on the site and has recommended other safety measures.

Sources:
Mike Sylvester, "Morrison, MySpace track sex offenders" The Wichita Eagle. URL (http://www.kansas.com/213/story/76387.html)
Kansas Senate Bill 204. URL (http://www.kslegislature.org/bills/2008/204.pdf)