It’s already become one of the Internet’s most popular social destinations, but the popularity and renown amassed by Facebook also brings with it close scrutiny in relationship to user privacy and, in particular, the safety precautions in place to guarantee that children perusing its pages and applications are beyond the reach of sexual predators.
Popular social networking site Facebook comes under investigation from the the New York State attorney regarding its safety and security regarding children. REUTERS/File
Moreover, reports are suggesting that Facebook, despite its attractive hip and trendy image, has perhaps been found wanting regarding its safety controls – or lack thereof.
Specifically, the Times Online offers that the New York State attorney has subpoenaed the social networking site seeking explanations surrounding its security policy after undercover authorities posing as teenage Facebook members were hit with advances of a sexual nature only a few days after creating their fake profiles.
One such advance saw an investigator create a fictitious Facebook profile for a 14-year-old girl, who was then approached soon after by a 24-year-old man seeking to obtain naked photographs. Similar fake profiles for a 13-year-old girl and an adult were also created, which then saw investigators dispatch a suggestive message to the fictional girl’s profile pointing out that she had "quite a hot little bod."
Facebook’s Web site states that the network is committed to user safety and also outlines that it "takes down any objectionable material" that may be posted, especially content deemed to be soliciting "personal information from anyone under 18."
Worryingly, however, the investigating parties have since revealed that, while Facebook was informed of the user activity, the social network service failed to take action, even though it clearly states it will remove any post found to be in violation of its rules of conduct.
Subsequently, the New York State attorney’s office has now called for Facebook to relinquish documentation pertaining to its security policy along with relevant information outlining how the site processes complaints garnered from its vast membership of more than 40 million users.
"Facebook has the right to operate any type of Web site it deems fit," commented attorney general Andrew Cuomo in a letter to Facebook. "It does not have the right to represent that its site is safe and that it promptly responds to complaints when such statements are not accurate."
By way of reaction to Cuomo’s letter informing Facebook of the investigation into potentially "materially misleading" advertising, the social networking site has released a statement saying that it takes the New York attorney general’s concerns "very seriously."
Your Talkback on this Story