Other LanguagesFacebook has agreed to take significant steps to better protect children on its Web site. Attorneys general nationwide signed an agreement with Facebook, in which they emphasize their shared goal of protecting children from inappropriate content and unwanted contact by adults.
The agreement is similar to one that MySpace reached in January with 49 states and the District of Columbia. MySpace agreed to head a task force, which Facebook has joined, focused on developing technology to verify the age and identity of social networking site users. The task force will report back to the attorneys general every three months and issue a formal report with findings and recommendations at the end of 2008.
“This agreement establishes that Facebook shares our concerns about creating a safe online environment for children and teens to network,” Attorney General Rob McKenna said in a news release. “Tools like age authentication technology can help protect children from sex predators who use the Internet to contact potential victims.”