AP: Conn. bill would force MySpace age check (other sites too)

[Eugene]

Conn. bill would force MySpace age check

By SUSAN HAIGH, Associated Press Writer

Wed Mar 7, 7:41 PM ET

HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut lawmakers unveiled legislation Wednesday
that would require MySpace.com and other social-networking sites to verify
users' ages and obtain parental consent before minors can post profiles.

The bill comes a day after a man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for
using MySpace.com to set up a sexual encounter with an 11-year-old
Connecticut girl. It was one of the first federal sex cases involving the
popular site.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who met with other attorneys general
on Tuesday, said 10 to 20 other states are considering similar legislation.

-snip-

Under the proposal, any networking site that fails to verify ages and obtain
parental permission of users under 18 would face civil fines up to $5,000 per
violation. Sites would have to check information about parents to make sure
it is legitimate. Parents would be contacted directly when necessary.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070308/ap_on_hi_te/myspace_dangers

[Sherman A1]

1. Perhaps if parents

would keep a better eye on their children's computer use this might not be an issue. It drives my nieces absolutely nuts, but their family computer is located in a very, very open area of the house with Mom & Dad very able to walk by and see what's on the screen at any time.

[MADem]

2. That is the stupidest legislation I've seen in a while. How about

parents simply checking up on their kids' activities? How tough is that?

LA TIMES has it right--MySpace is NOT Mommy:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-myspace16feb16,0,3393001.story?coll=la-opinion-leftrail

A FEDERAL JUDGE in Texas delivered an important message this week about the responsibilities of websites and their users, ruling that MySpace.com should not be penalized for an alleged sexual assault involving two people who met through the popular online service. Striking an appropriate balance, the decision doesn't give sites carte blanche to ignore the risks that minors face, yet it places the duty to protect them squarely on the shoulders of their parents.

At the heart of the case are two Texas teens: a 14-year-old girl and a 19-year-old community college student, whom authorities have indicted for sexual assault. The girl created a MySpace page when she was 13; to get around MySpace's requirement that members be at least 14, she claimed to be 18. The 19-year-old found her page and contacted her through MySpace, claiming to be a high school senior. She told him she was a high school freshman. Eventually, the two exchanged phone numbers, and after several weeks they got together for dinner and a movie. The alleged sexual assault took place that night.

After the student was indicted, the girl and her mother sued MySpace and News Corp., its deep-pocketed parent, claiming that the site was negligent in failing to protect the girl. Among other things, the plaintiffs blasted MySpace for not being able to verify that its users are at least 14 years old. That complaint has also been voiced by state attorneys general, who have pressed MySpace to exclude anyone younger than 16.

The problem is that this argument ignores how easy it is to spoof an identity online. It can be as simple as borrowing a driver's license and credit card from a relative or older friend. As U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks noted in his 14-page order, requiring MySpace to attempt the impossible and confirm ages would effectively shut it down, eliminating one of the Internet's most popular means of communication and personal expression.....