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May 8, 2008

Facebook agrees to add safeguards against predators

The Facebook social networking Internet site has agreed to carry out more than 40 safeguards that Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch and 48 other attorneys general said today will better protect children from predators and objectionable content.

Facebook will provide automatic warning messages when a child "is in danger of providing personal information to an unknown adult," the news release says, restrict users' ability to change their listed ages, take "more aggressive action" to remove from the site inappropriate content and groups, and mandate third-party vendors to follow Facebook’s safety and privacy guidelines.

“It’s significant that another major social networking Web site that attracts millions of young users is stepping up to foster a safer online environment,” Lynch said in the statement. “Just as important, this agreement will foster a better relationship between law enforcement officials and Facebook, thus enhancing our ability to investigate and prosecute Internet crimes.”

The release from Lynch's office says the agreement is similar to a pact attorneys general reached with another Web site, MySpace, in January.

-- The Associated Press and projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 1:05 PM | Permalink

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