e-STOP law protects kids from pervs

Legislation passed by the New York State Assembly has helped keep social networking sites free of registered sex offenders.
According to Assemblymember Mike Miller, since the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators (e-STOP) Act was passed three years ago, “more than 24,000 accounts and online profiles linked to registered sex offenders” have been removed.
“It can be very difficult for a child or teen to realize the threat posed by sex offenders masking their true identity online,” Miller said. “Since the passage of e-STOP, strict online regulations, including prohibiting certain sex offenders from accessing social networking web sites and communicating with minors, have helped protect thousands of children who access the web each day.”
On a weekly basis, law enforcement sends a list containing updated sex offender information to social networking companies so that they can be removed from the sites. Additionally, these social networking sites inform law enforcement officials of “potential sex offenders on their sites.”
Through e-STOP, sex offenders must provide law enforcement with up-to-date information with their email addresses, screen names and internet profiles.
Miller noted that “New York was the first state in the nation to pass such stringent regulations prohibiting registered sex offenders from using social networking sites to prey on young teens and children.”
“The internet is a wonderful tool for communication and learning, but without online protection, sex offenders have too many opportunities to reach our children,” Miller said. “As a supporter of e-STOP, I understand the importance of strengthening our laws to protect families around the state from dangerous online predators.”