I appreciate the opportunity to speak in support of proposed legislation requiring social networking internet sites to obtain parental or guardian consent before permitting a minor's profile on the website and to independently verify relevant information.
These sites must verify ages and give parents power to keep their children off these sites -- contacting parents directly if necessary to confirm their consent. Failing to verify ages means that children are exposed to sexual predators who may be older men lying to seem younger. There is no excuse in technology or cost for refusing age verification. If we can put a man on the moon -- or invent the Internet -- we can reliably check ages.
Strong interest in this measure was expressed to me by other Attorneys General at our national meeting. In Connecticut, at least six alleged sexual assaults involving older men and underage girls have been tied to MySpace in the last year. There have been dozens of similar arrests nationwide.
This bill helps protect kids -- and put parents back in control -- against the perils of pornography and predators on social networking sites. Age verification is the key to making social networking sites safer. Our proposal requires sites like MySpace to check ages for users or face stiff fines.
The fact is, contrary to some industry claims, age verification is easy and effective. Sites can confirm the ages of younger users by requiring publicly available information from a parent or guardian. They can confirm information about parents and contact them directly. Social networking sites can be forced to make child safety a priority.
Parents are the first and last line of defense against sexual predators and other social networking site dangers. This measure empowers parents -- enabling them to decide whether their children put profiles on sites. Social networking sites must obtain parental permission to post a minor's profile, assuring parents have the final say. This provision sends a powerful message: Respect the right and role of parents to restrict their children in social networking.
The Internet represents an enormous advance in technology and communications, providing significant gains in productivity for workers and bringing together people around the world. Social networking sites, in particular, can offer opportunities for people to meet others who share common interests. These sites are designed to allow their members to create their own web pages and share information about themselves. The web pages often contain a great deal of personal information, including the names and photographs of members.
The Internet has a dark side -- when it is being used as a tool by sexual predators to prey on unsuspecting, innocent children. Social networking sites provide opportunities for sexual predators who peruse personal profiles searching for victims. Serious sexual assaults and other criminal activity have been linked to MySpace contacts. Numerous parents have complained that their children established profiles without their knowledge or consent. Parents have been alarmed that these profiles sometimes contain the most sensitive and personal information.
I have been co-chairing a working group of 44 state attorneys general who have met and negotiated with MySpace, Facebook, Xanga and other social networking sites, seeking improved measures to protect children from sexual predators. Some progress has been made, but only baby steps when giant strides are essential to web safety.
Parents are the first and last line of defense. Recognizing that key fact, I have worked with local police chiefs, schools and community groups to conduct community outreach programs for parents and others on Internet safety.
Parents deserve and need additional power to protect their children. Social networking web sites should empower them to say no before any Connecticut minor posts a profile. This proposal also requires that the web site owner or operator allow a parent or guardian to access the minor's web profile page at all times. Further, the site owners or operators shall use independently obtained information to verify the accuracy of personal identification information collected from members, parents and guardians at the time of registration. Failure to implement these critical safety measures would constitute an unfair trade practice, allowing for state enforcement and private rights of action by parents.
For more than a year, my office has received complaints from parents -- chiefly about MySpace -- a social networking site with more than 150 million profiles. Over the past year, there have been at least 8 criminal investigations of sexual predators linked to MySpace.com. Predator's ages range from 19 years to 46 years. The victims are 12 to 15 year old girls.
Although MySpace and most other social networking websites prohibit any child under 14 years of age from establishing a web page, an Avon Middle School survey found that 21% of fifth to eighth graders had profiles on MySpace and other similar sites. My office found a 9 year old girl's profile on MySpace, complete with her photograph. This proposed legislation is clearly necessary and critical, and will enable parents to protect children.
I urge the committee's favorable consideration of this proposed legislation.
