MySpace backs AG effort to strengthen online safety

By Ed Oswald | Published January 15, 2008, 11:53 AM

The social networking site and the Attorneys General of 49 states plus the District of Columbia have agreed on key principles for the entire industry to build around.

The joint statement sets guidelines for online safety tools, technology, education, and law enforcement. Texas was the lone state to decline to sign the agreement, but so far no reasoning for their abstention has been given.

MySpace has been making efforts to improve its safety measures even ahead of the agreement, which the Attorneys General took notice of the service's efforts, and asked that other sites also work to improve its own systems.

Four separate areas make up the statement of principles. The first deals with site design and functionality. The company reviews every image and video uploaded to the site, as well as reviewing group content, and defaulting underage profiles to private.

A second facet includes education of parents, educators and children. MySpace's efforts in this space including public service announcements and parental control software, and it is also looking into a joint service with other providers to allow parents to block access to any social networking site.

Third, MySpace will continue to work with law enforcement to keep an open line to report and investigate potential concerns. The AGs said that MySpace's efforts should be a model for the industry.

Finally, the statement calls for the creation of a task force consisting of players from across the industry. The group will promote the principles within Tuesday's announcement, as well as continue to review new technologies aimed at online safety.

"This is an industry-wide challenge and we must all work together to create a safer Internet," MySpace security chief Hemanshu Nigam said. "The Principles we have adopted set forth what the industry needs to strive towards to provide a safer online experience for teens and we look forward to sharing our ongoing safety innovations with other companies."

The effort to protect children online is not specific to the US: in Europe Tuesday, the EU Parliament began to debate its own steps toward fighting back against child predators. Lawmakers are discussing new policies to combat the growing amount of sexual explicit content involving children online.