HARTFORD, Conn. -- Facebook, the world's second-largest social networking website, is adding more than 40 new safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several U.S. states said Thursday.
The changes include banning convicted sex offenders from the site, limiting older users' ability to search online for subscribers under 18 and joining an existing task force seeking ways to better verify users' ages and identities.
"The agreement marks another watershed step toward social networking safety, protecting kids from online predators and inappropriate content," said Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who announced the agreement with his counterparts from other states.
And while a Facebook spokesperson said the agreement on new safeguards was only reached with American officials, Stephanie Pettinati confirmed by e-mail that they will apply to all users, including those in Canada.
In all, officials from Washington, D.C., and 49 states have signed on to the agreement.
Facebook, which has more than 70 million active users worldwide, already has enacted many of the changes and others are in the works, its officials said Thursday.
"Building a safe and trusted online experience has been part of Facebook from its outset," said Chris Kelly, Facebook's chief privacy officer.
The attorneys general have been negotiating for months for tighter controls with Palo Alto, Calif.-based Facebook and MySpace, the world's largest online social network with 200 million users around the world.
MySpace, Facebook and other online networks have created a new venue for sexual predators, who often lie about their age to lure young victims to chat, share images and sometimes meet in person. It also has spawned cyberbullies, who have sent threatening and anonymous messages to classmates, acquaintances and other users.
Among other changes, Facebook has agreed to:
-- Ensure companies offering services on its site comply with its safety and privacy guidelines.
-- Keep tobacco and alcohol ads from users too young to purchase those products.
-- Remove groups whose comments or images suggest they may involve incest, pedophilia, bullying or other inappropriate content.
-- Send warning messages when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an adult.
-- Review users' profiles when they ask to change their age, ensuring the update is legitimate and not intended to let adults masquerade as children.
"We're entering a new era in social networking safety," Blumenthal said.
-- The Associated Press
PREVIOUS
