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Want that Myspace account? Let me see some ID!

ArtoriaArtoria Registered User regular
edited March 2007 in Games and Technology
Not sure if this is a D&D topic or a G&T topic but since it's technology related (sort of) I thought I would put it here. If it's more D&Dish feel free to move it.

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/03/07/D8NNG7680.html
Conn. Bill Would Force MySpace Age Check

By SUSAN HAIGH
Associated Press Writer

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Connecticut lawmakers unveiled legislation Wednesday that would require MySpace.com and other social-networking sites to verify users' ages and obtain parental consent before minors can post profiles.
The bill comes a day after a man was sentenced to 14 years in prison for using MySpace.com to set up a sexual encounter with an 11-year-old Connecticut girl. It was one of the first federal sex cases involving the popular site.

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who met with other attorneys general on Tuesday, said 10 to 20 other states are considering similar legislation.
"The technology is available. The solution is financially feasible, practically doable," he said. "If we can put a man on the moon, we can check ages of people on these Web sites."

Under the proposal, any networking site that fails to verify ages and obtain parental permission of users under 18 would face civil fines up to $5,000 per violation. Sites would have to check information about parents to make sure it is legitimate. Parents would be contacted directly when necessary.
MySpace did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The bill, which is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday, would apply to any organized online networking organization, including chat rooms.
Parents, school administrators and law-enforcement authorities have been increasingly warning of online predators at sites like MySpace, whose youth-oriented visitors are encouraged to expand their circles of friends through messaging tools and personal profile pages. It has more than 100 million registered users.

The site has responded by expanding educational efforts and partnerships with law enforcement. It also adopted new restrictions on how adults may contact the site's younger users and has helped design tools for identifying profiles created by convicted sex offenders.

The site's current policy bars children under 14 from setting up profiles. Users who 14 or 15 can display their full profiles _ containing hobbies, schools and any other personal details _ only to people already on the teen's list of friends. Others see only the bare-bones profile, listing username, gender, age and location.

But MySpace relies on users to specify their age.
News Corp.'s MySpace is the largest social-networking site, with more than 100 million registered users.

Now I am all for protecting kids against on-line predators. But is this even feasible to do? How would you set up an age checking system that large? how would you stop kids from cheating on it and getting an older Friend to give permission? Not to mention the part where they say "Parents would be contacted directly when necessary" how many people will you need working a call center to do that? and don't the kids just lie about their ages now anyways to get on myspace? I'm pretty sure there are some 12 year olds on there right now.

Artoria on

Posts

  • Seta 3000Seta 3000 Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    dragonsama wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure there are some 12 year olds on there right now.

    Hell, the article mentions an eleven-year-old.

    Seta 3000 on
  • 4rch3nemy4rch3nemy Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    The chick from your sig is totally hot and probably only 12.

    4rch3nemy on
  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    What happened to parents and personal responsibility? Let's just throw financial information around needlessly all over the web since parents can't safeguard their own household surfing.

    Schools should already have stuff like MySpace and YouTube blocked from general Internet use anyway. While I don't always agree with filtering information, most of the stuff that goes on those websites aren't school-related anyway and can be found in more... legitimate... avenues.

    Seriously though. Politicians need to get the fuck out of our free market economy. If they want to block anybody from the sites, let them block their own kids.

    EDIT: Also, does Connecticut even have jurisdiction to dictate how a website not physically based in their state operates? I would think MySpace could just throw them the finger and do whatever they want.

    imbalanced on
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  • CrunchyKellsCrunchyKells Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »



    EDIT: Also, does Connecticut even have jurisdiction to dictate how a website not physically based in their state operates? I would think MySpace could just throw them the finger and do whatever they want.

    Good question. Any takers?

    CrunchyKells on
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  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »



    EDIT: Also, does Connecticut even have jurisdiction to dictate how a website not physically based in their state operates? I would think MySpace could just throw them the finger and do whatever they want.

    Good question. Any takers?

    I mean I guess they could make it unlawful and then prosecute anyone employed by MySpace who comes into their state borders, but who wants to go to Connecticut anyway? It's not like kids are driving over to MySpace town in the west corner of their state, where drinking age is lower and you can have sex with monkeys if the monkey happens to be provided. Monkey sex. Good times.

    imbalanced on
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  • apotheosapotheos Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2007
    I really would like a website that makes it easier to connect with underage easily manipulated girls. Someone needs to work on that.

    apotheos on


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  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    apotheos wrote: »
    I really would like a website that makes it easier to connect with underage easily manipulated girls. Someone needs to work on that.

    If only. I DO have one of those "Duck" tours where you float around in those bus/boat contraptions where only underage easily manipulated girls are allowed to attend, but I doubt you live in the DC metropolitan area. Oh man, is the mid-tour swimming hole fun!

    imbalanced on
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  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    dragonsama wrote: »
    Now I am all for protecting kids against on-line predators. But is this even feasible to do? How would you set up an age checking system that large? how would you stop kids from cheating on it and getting an older Friend to give permission? Not to mention the part where they say "Parents would be contacted directly when necessary" how many people will you need working a call center to do that? and don't the kids just lie about their ages now anyways to get on myspace? I'm pretty sure there are some 12 year olds on there right now.
    By requiring the use of a credit card to join. Not necessarily charging, but requiring the info like Second Life used to do. Sure, there'll be kids who steal the card or get it from mom who doesn't even care, but it adds a layer of responsibility akin to not selling M games to minors.

    Of course, their new memberships plummet, but it's the easiest way to get the kids off of there.

    UncleSporky on
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  • apotheosapotheos Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »
    apotheos wrote: »
    I really would like a website that makes it easier to connect with underage easily manipulated girls. Someone needs to work on that.

    If only. I DO have one of those "Duck" tours where you float around in those bus/boat contraptions where only underage easily manipulated girls are allowed to attend, but I doubt you live in the DC metropolitan area. Oh man, is the mid-tour swimming hole fun!

    Wow do I not know what you are talking about and am terrified to google it.

    apotheos on


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  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    apotheos wrote: »
    imbalanced wrote: »
    apotheos wrote: »
    I really would like a website that makes it easier to connect with underage easily manipulated girls. Someone needs to work on that.

    If only. I DO have one of those "Duck" tours where you float around in those bus/boat contraptions where only underage easily manipulated girls are allowed to attend, but I doubt you live in the DC metropolitan area. Oh man, is the mid-tour swimming hole fun!

    Wow do I not know what you are talking about and am terrified to google it.

    ducktours_photo_01.jpg

    OH YES!!!

    imbalanced on
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  • Cold Salmon and HatredCold Salmon and Hatred __BANNED USERS regular
    edited March 2007
    This idea is completely flawed. What about people above the age of 18? Would they have to provide parental information? And if so, that would be pretty funny to get a phone call asking if you're 23 old son is above the age of 14. And if not, then kids will figure out a way to exploit that weakness. They'll just claim to be above 18.
    I have no idea what I just said.

    Cold Salmon and Hatred on
  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »
    apotheos wrote: »
    imbalanced wrote: »
    apotheos wrote: »
    I really would like a website that makes it easier to connect with underage easily manipulated girls. Someone needs to work on that.

    If only. I DO have one of those "Duck" tours where you float around in those bus/boat contraptions where only underage easily manipulated girls are allowed to attend, but I doubt you live in the DC metropolitan area. Oh man, is the mid-tour swimming hole fun!

    Wow do I not know what you are talking about and am terrified to google it.

    ducktours_photo_01.jpg

    OH YES!!!

    We got those here, we call them the Wisconsin Ducks, as they were produced in the condemned army factory a little bit north of me.

    Veevee on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    UncleSporky on
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  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    Maybe we should have a PA gather at Noahs Ark sometime in the near future. That or maybe Mt. Olympus. Or both.

    Veevee on
  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    Sporky, YOU are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I will be putting up an under 18 MySpace page JUST FOR YOU. It will be the hawtness. I hope you have a credit card handy.

    imbalanced on
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  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    Sporky, YOU are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I will be putting up an under 18 MySpace page JUST FOR YOU. It will be the hawtness. I hope you have a credit card handy.

    debit :?

    UncleSporky on
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  • ArtoriaArtoria Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Zot wrote: »
    This idea is completely flawed. What about people above the age of 18? Would they have to provide parental information? And if so, that would be pretty funny to get a phone call asking if you're 23 old son is above the age of 14. And if not, then kids will figure out a way to exploit that weakness. They'll just claim to be above 18.
    I have no idea what I just said.

    See and there in lays the problem. a kid could just give the phone number/address of a friend and the friend could say "ya that's my kid and I'm cool with him having a myspace account" you got to remember there are kids now who sound like adults on the phone.

    Artoria on
  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    Sporky, YOU are awesome. So awesome, in fact, that I will be putting up an under 18 MySpace page JUST FOR YOU. It will be the hawtness. I hope you have a credit card handy.

    debit :?

    That should work, does it have Visa or Mastercard on the front??


    Okay on a serious note I see three things wrong with this:

    1) The flaws previously mentioned with kids just getting the information any way they can, since there's no charge there's no paper trail.
    2) Connecticut shouldn't even be able to have a say in this matter anyway.
    3) IF this goes through, the requirements would actually inhibit new membership by the people that should legitimately be on MySpace. I know I think twice before putting my card info online, EVEN if it's for free identity checking services.

    EDIT:
    also, could the ramifications of this do anything to cut back on all the porn bots an shit on myspace?

    Now THIS I can get behind. They definitely need some sort of mechanism to cut down on the bots that are on the system now. I'm getting two invites a day from pornbots and it's kinda annoying.

    imbalanced on
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  • BaronVonSnakPakBaronVonSnakPak Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Veevee wrote: »
    Ducks are awesome. Wisconsin Dells is awesome.

    This thread is awesome!

    Maybe we should have a PA gather at Noahs Ark sometime in the near future. That or maybe Mt. Olympus. Or both.


    as a la crosse native, i agree.

    also, could the ramifications of this do anything to cut back on all the porn bots an shit on myspace? or would they just skirt around it with fake identification?

    BaronVonSnakPak on
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  • VeeveeVeevee WisconsinRegistered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I think most people are overlooking the fact that this isn't for just Myspace, but "any organized online networking organization". These forums could be seen as this.

    Veevee on
  • imbalancedimbalanced Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Veevee wrote: »
    I think most people are overlooking the fact that this isn't for just Myspace, but "any organized online networking organization". These forums could be seen as this.

    Then the law would be seen as too broad and knocked down. I can only imagine the criteria they would use to describe an "online networking organization" on an ONLINE FUCKING NETWORK.

    imbalanced on
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  • FierceDeity666FierceDeity666 Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    imbalanced wrote: »
    Veevee wrote: »
    I think most people are overlooking the fact that this isn't for just Myspace, but "any organized online networking organization". These forums could be seen as this.

    Then the law would be seen as too broad and knocked down. I can only imagine the criteria they would use to describe an "online networking organization" on an ONLINE FUCKING NETWORK.

    You must be 18 years or older to ride the internet

    FierceDeity666 on
  • PepperSinclairePepperSinclaire Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I enjoyed the fact that the Attorney General used the old "if we can put a man on the moon..." argument in that article.

    PepperSinclaire on
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  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    I enjoyed the fact that the Attorney General used the old "if we can put a man on the moon..." argument in that article.

    Is putting a man on the moon really that hard? Other than the expense, it isn't like it would take technology that advanced by today's standards.

    Couscous on
  • UncleSporkyUncleSporky Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    titmouse wrote: »
    I enjoyed the fact that the Attorney General used the old "if we can put a man on the moon..." argument in that article.

    Is putting a man on the moon really that hard? Other than the expense, it isn't like it would take technology that advanced by today's standards.

    It wouldn't be hard at all if it didn't matter if he was alive or not.

    UncleSporky on
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  • FierceDeity666FierceDeity666 Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    now getting that man OFF the moon alive, that's the tricky part

    FierceDeity666 on
  • CouscousCouscous Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    now getting that man OFF the moon alive, that's the tricky part

    That is pretty much the problem here. It is possible to check someone's ID online. However, being able to get someone's ID without crippling millions of websites on the internet.

    Couscous on
  • StormyWatersStormyWaters Registered User regular
    edited March 2007
    Dormant commerce clause ho!

    StormyWaters on
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