Gawker
"Crimes committed by sexual predators against children they meet by way of the Internet occur far too often," reads the press release Facebook and a slew of New York politicians including Attorney General Andrew Cuomo put out today. "Far too often" isn't precise language, but it's likely frightening enough rhetoric to drum up votes for the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, announced in the release.
Never mind that according to research, only 7 percent of arrests for statutory rape are Internet-related. And that experts say the best way to keep sex-offender recidivism rates low is to allow the criminal to live in a stable environment where he can get a job and live a normal life. This bill will pass. Facebook will have cover from litigation. Cuomo will have his Eliot-Spitzer moment. And nothing, really, will have been accomplished.
