Terry Goddard Applauds Agreement with MySpace on Sex Offenders

(Phoenix, Ariz. – May 21, 2007) Attorney General Terry Goddard today commended MySpace for agreeing to provide information on sex offenders found using the popular Internet social network.

Once the data about registered sex offenders is obtained, it will be shared with local law enforcement officials, Goddard said. The information can be used to look for potential parole or probation violations by offenders who may be barred from using a social networking site or contacting minors.

“This agreement will provide an additional tool to law enforcement to help protect children from predators,” Goddard said.

The agreement followed a letter from Attorneys General to MySpace demanding that the company turn over information about sex offenders. MySpace has identified and deleted thousands of registered sex offenders from its site but has preserved information about them and will provide it to the attorneys general. MySpace also agreed to continue to search its site for registered sex offenders and give the states information about all who are found.