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Illinois outlaws sex offenders from using Facebook, MySpace
Governor signs bill aimed at keeping known predators from online prowling
The state of Illinois made it a law this week that convicted sex offenders cannot use social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace.
Gov. Pat Quinn signed Bill HB 1314 this week, making it a class 4 felony for a sex offender to use or even access a social networking site. The law goes into effect Jan. 1.
"I am pleased to sign this important legislation which prohibits sex offenders from using social network sites like Facebook and MySpace," Quinn said in a statement e-mailed to Computerworld.
"I want to thank the Illinois General Assembly, who passed this bill unanimously, for their commitment to protecting the families and children of Illinois."
The new state law is geared toward making it more difficult for predators to connect with previous or new victims.
The issue, according to Dan Olds, principal analyst with The Gabriel Consulting Group, lies in how to put any teeth into the law.
"Whether banning convicted sex offenders from social networking is just or not can be argued, but the greater point is if it can be enforced," he added.
"It is relatively easy to build a bogus online persona so that person can still participate in any social network. The only way to have any hope of enforcing this law is to require social networks to check user identification and then cross-reference that against court records. I doubt that will happen any time soon."
Social networking sites, such as MySpace, have been dealing with the sex offender issue for some time. In 2007, MySpace came under fire when attorneys general from eight states told MySpace to turn over the names of potentially thousands of registered sex offenders who may be members of its site.
The states' head attorneys said at the time that they were "gravely concerned" that sexual predators were using the Web site to lure children to meet them offline.
They asked MySpace to tell them how many registered sex offenders they've identified on the site and what the company is doing to remove them.
Later that same year, the spotlight turned to MySpace rival Facebook when Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal warned that sex offenders were lurking on the increasingly popular social networking site.
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i agree
unconstitutional!! why do our lawmakers in this state make up such fear touting,feel good laws ?? they protect no one,we as parents are suppose to monitor and protect,laws like these do no good,protect no one just make sure these law makers feel good about themselves like they are helping but actually hurting,making believe that with these laws and other enacted will protect children,lets see fake names and addresses and such will just be used come on people of this state lets educate ourselves more about sex offenders and work together too protect our children and educate them,this new law is no more affective than the 500 ft residency restriction law,they cant live with in 500 ft of,so you all feel better they cant ? well then how about 1,000, 2,000 ?? worked so well for Iowa nope it didnt,they have restructered there laws,when will Illinois ?? the 500 ft law does nothing to protect,you want to know why,well offenders cant sleep with wives or just sleep there at there homes,but they can go there anytime,that means during the day when school is in or even when its not,they just sleep there when school isnt in session,so this law protects who ?? just like this new one social networking site,when are going too stand up to this lousy government that has done nothing but pass feel good laws and steal and lie and put special taxes on candy just because they coudnt raise state tax,people of Illinois its time we educate ourselves more about these sex offender laws that truthfully dont protect just make everyone "feel" safe but not. thanks
Law is unconstitutional, overbroad
The law has a vague definition of "social networking site" which makes even places like this comment board off limits. This law will ultimately be struck down for vagueness. After all, there are many legitimate reasons to use social networks, such as job hunting, keeping up with long distance family members, or expressing your right to anonymous free speech on a comments board. *ex offender truth @ www.oncefallen.com
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