Connecticut Attorney General's Office
Press Release
Attorney General Says Nearly 150 CT Sex Offender Profiles Removed From Facebook and Myspace -- More Than 111,000 Removed Nationally To Date
January 25, 2010
The total number of convicted sex offender profiles scrubbed from these sites has now reached more than 111,000 since Blumenthal's office, co-leading a coalition of states, has been working with Facebook and MySpace to crack down on Internet predators.
"A new law requiring sex offenders to register their email accounts enables more effective vetting and vigilance -- and both are vital," Blumenthal said.
Blumenthal said Facebook recently removed 127 profiles linked to emails belonging to registered sex offenders specifically from Connecticut and MySpace recently removed another 22 Connecticut sex offender profiles from its site.
Since December 2006 to date, MySpace has removed a total of approximately 101,909 sex offender profiles linked to predators across the nation. Since January 2009, Facebook has removed a total of 9,807 profiles. In Connecticut alone, the total number of convicted Connecticut sex offender profiles removed from Facebook to date is 246, and 438 for MySpace.
"These numbers prove the need for perseverance and persistent protection -- preventing predators from seeking easy Internet access to minors," Blumenthal said. "I commend Facebook and MySpace for working with my office and our coalition of states to sever sex offenders from their sites. My office will continue to work tirelessly to stop sex offenders from mingling with minors on such sites.
"Removing these sex offender profiles was enabled by our successful fight for stronger laws requiring that sex offenders register their emails with state police. Parents must be more vigilant than ever because these profiles of convicted sex offenders using their real names are likely only the tip of the predator population. Most predators are likely shielding identities -- easily and dangerously -- with sham identities or unreported email accounts.
"Parents must be the first and last line of defense against Internet threats to their children, but we will continue to work relentlessly for tools that empower them to protect their children."