MySpace Donates Sex Offender Database

[HardOCP News]

Reuters is reporting that MySpace will donate a national computer database on U.S. sex offenders to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

Sex offender data is collected by individual state authorities. MySpace and background verification company Sentinel Tech Holdings Corp. developed a technology that combines close to 50 U.S. state registries, aiming to help police keep track of an estimated 600,000 convicted sex offenders.

 

[HardOCP News]

And the countdown to "I thought MySpace WAS the largest Sex Offender database..." jokes begins...3....2.....1....

 

[Redleader]

Its sad we have over 600,000 sex offenders released. Should just be killed.

 

[Ockie]

Its sad we have over 600,000 sex offenders released. Should just be killed.

Remember, not all are truly guilty... it's quite easy for somone to say "my teacher touched me" when they get a bad grade.

But yeah, I could care less what they do with them.



Myspace should just submit their adult viewers records to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children... I'm sure they'd get a pretty big catch... lol

 

[UrielDagda]

The sex offender registries are a joke. 600,000 people.. No wonder they can't keep track of them all. Everybody from people who expose themselves in a drunken stupor, to wrongfully accused that were forced to take a plea, non-violent offenses, up to most disgusting molesters and rapists are on that thing.

Now a huge database to put all of them on.. I wonder how reliable that will be, or will it be rife with error? Until they pare down that list, until it's just for the most violent offenders (the ones that are the most likely to repeat), it's all just useless media and political fodder, and a great resource for free publicity for companies already under the gun.

 

[kush]

What gets me is that *most* people assume child molester right off the bat. Sex offender != touches little children by definition. Note: I am in NO way defending those sicks fucks, just pointing out the typical knee-jerk reaction of seemingly the majority of Americans.

On Topic though... Do I trust NewsCorp/Fox/MS to get this right?: Hell NO. Should they be doing the job of law enforcement?: NO. What should be done is to allow access under subpoena to records of suspected child molesters and other offenders - same as ANY criminal case would be, and should be were it not for the Helen Lovejoy's of the USA.

What I'd like MySpace to do rather is to figure out a way to verify people's true age/identities first, there's far too much B.S.'ing in users profiles, as was pointed out in another thread here recently. Perhaps something like faxing/mailing a copy of a DL/ID card, a little checkbox saying "yes I'm 13 or older" (or whatever) is far too lax. And in the case of a minor, a parent or other adult guardian can apply in their place. MS may have been a place meant for people of all ages to meet/greet, but that doesn't mean all rational thought has to be thrown out the window. And bottom line, parents as a whole need to be alot more involved in their childrens daily habits (including MS surfing/messaging/etc) - alot of the crap associated w/ it (MS) could be nipped in the bud before it even starts..Two sets of eyes are better than one are they not?

 

[GJSNeptune]

Perhaps something like faxing/mailing a copy of a DL/ID card

Sounds like a good idea in theory, but let's get real. Aside from new memberships declining, what's stopping people from scanning their ID, opening it with Photoshop, and faxing the doctored version?

There's no practical way to make Myspace safe. If they require hardcopy proof of identity, no one will sign up or they'll sign up under false information anyway. Eventually Myspace would become a database instead of a community.

Sure, Myspace could force under-13 users to hide certain personal information, but what's stopping the 13-year-olds from contacting older members? You could incorporate Facebook's concept of networks, but people can still lie. At least with Facebook (early on) you had to supply an .edu email address, indicating you're a student and that you're typically 18 or older. But now they've opened it to high school students. Facebook has always been quite safe though.

With Myspace (does Xanga and other sites haev this problem), the safety has to start from home, and schools should block these sites. Either you trust the kids and let them use it, or you get strict about it or block them from using it as much as you can. Unfortunately, a lot of kids welcome the attention from older, greasy people.

 

[UrielDagda]

There's no practical way to make Myspace safe. If they require hardcopy proof of identity, no one will sign up or they'll sign up under false information anyway.

That is a thought I have had about the issue, also.. I also think it's an issue that is kind of related to the RIAA/MPAA's issues. The fact that the Internet is transforming society, so we need new thinking in a lot of ways.

Education is what we need. Better education for children that includes comprehensive sex education, becuase we have to face a truth.. There are "children" (although I would consider them more as teens, and I dont see teens as "children") that want to go meet people and have sex (and drink, do drugs, and various other things). Hence, they will lie about thier age to be able to get more access to whatever they are looking for. And they could get a lot more than they bargained for.

We need better and updated education for kids, teens, parents, etc. that isn't biased and doesn't create a panic of people seeing bad everywhere. It is a new social era that needs new social thought.

Sorry if that seems a bit brief, I have more to say on the issue but am out of time.

 

[Ockie]

Well they could start by requiring a proper email address... same as what hardocp is doing.. It works like a charm.

Also, another thing, what about a last 4 digits of your SSN to go along with that (include SSN database verification, I'm sure they can pull some legs to make this happen).

OR

They could require phone numbers for registration purposes.... and it calls you to verify you. My ISP has this system in place, the moment you process your account it automatically calls you, when you say "hello", "hi" or whatever, it would start speaking to you and verifying your account... then it asks if you agree to the rules and terms and to say your name as a digital voice signature.

 

[GJSNeptune]

Not practical for Myspace, unless they're convinced the cost of extra infrastructure is cheaper than calling their lawyers all the time.

A reasonably practical feature could be registration via webcam, but not everyone has one, and I doubt Myspace has the personnel to handle this.

Plus, you could probably have your older friend (of the same gender) register for you.



In any case, the person who can figure out how to ensure everyone is who they say they are will be living a sweet, sweet life...being chased by a mob of angry kids and perverts.

 

[Ockie]

Not practical for Myspace, unless they're convinced the cost of extra infrastructure is cheaper than calling their lawyers all the time.

A reasonably practical feature could be registration via webcam, but not everyone has one, and I doubt Myspace has the personnel to handle this.

Plus, you could probably have your older friend (of the same gender) register for you.



In any case, the person who can figure out how to ensure everyone is who they say they are will be living a sweet, sweet life...being chased by a mob of angry kids and perverts.

You have any idea how much a simple legal team costs? Your looking at $400 to $1000 an hour minus your other expenses such as dealing with the media and settlements.

I doubt a refrence system is going to cost a lot, especially at the burden they are facing around the clock.

How would a webcam be more practical? Everysingle person has a phone if they have a computer, thats pretty much a given... every single person who has a account online has an email, so hows that impractical.

Your idea of a webcam picture is absurd, as you can take any picture and pictures do not identify age nor does it identify a location... then you'd also have to deal with profanity pictures and pictures of those like you said who would fake it.

 

[w1retap]

Its sad we have over 600,000 sex offenders released. Should just be killed.

Nah, just cut off their genitals.

Actually, I'm sort of on the same page here with you. It sounds terrible that they should be killed, but there really is no rehabilitating these sicko's. If they are convicted, especially of rape on someone under 16, give them the death penalty. The repeat offender statistics are stunningly high, and that can't be ignored.

/waits for a pussy to say "oh em gee liek killing someone makes you just as bad as them. They just need counseling."

Then I say.. That is a reason why political correctness is ruining society, that is the reason terrorism continues to be a fear in the US since racial profiling is frowned upon, and that is why the testosterone levels have been on a steady decline in the US for the past 40 years. Political correctness and sensitivity to others takes a back seat in my book.

 

[GJSNeptune]

You have any idea how much a simple legal team costs? Your looking at $400 to $1000 an hour minus your other expenses such as dealing with the media and settlements.

I doubt a refrence system is going to cost a lot, especially at the burden they are facing around the clock.

Minus? You mean added to. And it would be quite expensive and not even helpful. It's automated, right? Anything automated will not ensure identity.

How would a webcam be more practical? Everysingle person has a phone if they have a computer, thats pretty much a given... every single person who has a account online has an email, so hows that impractical.

It's impractical because it's automated. Or did you mean for a human to call each member? All you have to do is put in your correct phone number and answer 'hi' or 'yes?' How is that going to prove identity?

Your idea of a webcam picture is absurd, as you can take any picture and pictures do not identify age nor does it identify a location... then you'd also have to deal with profanity pictures and pictures of those like you said who would fake it.

I wasn't clear enough. You seem to be focusing on still pictures. If I meant for people to send in pictures, I wouldn't have said anything about a webcam. The webcam is for Myspace staff to have something like a 'video conference' with people who'd like to register. I didn't say it was fully practical. I said 'reasonably,' which is entirely up to your misinterpretation.

Not only that, I even argued a bit against my webcam idea. I'm sorry if you missed my doubts about it, and thank you for the added feedback.

Let's rewind a little. You flame me in another thread for arguing in circles or whatever cliché you used, but you're always the first to slam. Or is it something you say when you've been defeated?



Sexual predators should have internet content filters similar to a school's. I'd say prohibit them from accessing the internet, but I'm not that big of a jackass. They need access to Google to help relieve their supposed frustrations. Plus, I'd rather them go to jail for downoading child porn or whatever than molesting a real person.

Maybe Myspace should start making people pay, even $2 or however little. If you're an adult, you have a credit card, and if you're under 18 you'll likely ask your parents, who will then know about it and want to monitor it since they're paying. And even if kids have their own credit card, I'm sure their parents are closely monitoring it.

Of course, kids can find a non-parent with a credit card to register for them. That's an exception, but it would probably help a good deal otherwise.