Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
CT, NC Attorneys General Say MySpace Response To Subpoena Reveals 90,000 Registered Sex Offenders With Profiles
February 3, 2009
Blumenthal made the announcement with North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, who co-chairs with Blumenthal the state attorney general task force on social networking.
Blumenthal called the revelation powerful evidence refuting a recent task force report downplaying the threat of sexual predators on social networking sites.
Blumenthal said, "This shocking revelation -- resulting from our subpoena -- provides compelling proof that social networking sites remain rife with sexual predators. Nearly 100,000 convicted sex offenders with MySpace profiles powerfully refutes the recent task force report -- based on outdated and incomplete data -- falsely downplaying the threat of predators on social networking sites."
Cooper said, "Technology should play a role in keeping children safe on the Internet, and social networking sites must put better safety tools in place to keep predators away from kids."
Blumenthal added, "Almost 100,000 convicted sex offenders mixing with children on MySpace -- shown by our subpoena -- is absolutely appalling and totally unacceptable. For every one of them, there may be hundreds of others using false names and ages. These convicted registered sex offenders creating profiles under their own names unmasks MySpace's monstrously inadequate counter-measures. MySpace must purge these dangerous offenders now -- and rid them for good. Social networking sites must be barred as playgrounds for predators -- a very real threat exposed by the response to our subpoena."
Blumenthal continued, "My office will immediately seek to identify any and all Connecticut offenders with MySpace profiles and inform appropriate state authorities so they can determine whether terms of probation or release were violated, as has been done previously. I urge all states to immediately incarcerate or take other appropriate action, including additional restrictions, against offenders violating legal restrictions.
"I will continue to fight for reforms and safeguards at MySpace and other social networking sites to protect children, including age and identification verification. I urge MySpace and the social networking industry to end their resistance to age and identify verification -- vital to barring predators and protecting children from inappropriate content.
"Law enforcement officials know the reality: children are solicited every day on line. All too often, they fall prey. Technology companies and social networking sites must do more -- and do it now. Blaming the victim is appalling and outrageous.
"Parents remain the first line of defense against social networking abuse, and I urge the industry to adopt technology and tools that empower and enable parents to better protect their children."
MySpace will turn over the information to the Attorney General's Office for investigation starting today.
Recent reports also indicate substantial numbers of convicted offenders with profiles on Facebook. Blumenthal said that his office is awaiting a response to his recent subpoena to Facebook.