Social Networks: CA Sex Offenders Could Get Banned

By Kamika Dunlap on March 12, 2010 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Several states already have laws on the books to keep sexual predators off MySpace and Facebook. Now, CA sex offenders could get banned from social networking sites too.

According to the Orange County Register, state lawmakers are proposing a new law that makes it illegal for registered CA sex offenders to use any social networking site including Facebook and MySpace.

Officials claim the Internet is the new playground for sexual predators looking for victims.

Assemblywoman Norma Torres (D-Pomona) is author of the proposed law AB 2208. This bill would make it a misdemeanor for any person required to register as a sex offender to use any Internet social network web site.

Specific penalties are still being worked out but violators could face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

As previously discussed, more than 3,500 registered New York sex offenders were kicked off of MySpace and Facebook were kicked off of MySpace and Facebook and other social networking sites.

The purge was part of the first database sweep since New York's Electronic Securing and Targeting of Online Predators Act "e-STOP" which took effect last year. The New York e-STOP program is the first of its kind.

In Georgia, a new bill also is on the table that could keep sex offenders off social networking sites. The proposed law would allow the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to release to social networking sites, like Facebook or MySpace, the email addresses and usernames of registered sex offenders, so that the social networking sites can match them up with people's profiles.

The bill could be passed as early April, and go into effect as soon as July.

Copied to clipboard