New York’s Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act, (e-STOP) is focused on the prevention of sex crimes against minors who access social networking sites. e-STOP would authorize NY to provide companies with user names, e-mail addresses and Internet providers – for all registered sex offenders. e-STOP now gives these companies the authority to bar access to Internet services and advise government entities, including law enforcement of any potential threats to public safety.

Facebook and MySpace have already used e-STOP to remove NY sex offenders. Following their lead 13 more social networking sites of done the same. The 13 sites are BlackPlanet.com, Yahoo’s Flickr.com, AOL’s Bebo.com, Flixster.com, Classmates.com, Fotolog.com, Hi5.com, MyLife.com, Multiply.com, are Google’s Orkut.com, Tagged.com, Imeem.com and Stickam.com.

“The country’s most popular social networking sites have taken an important step in making the Internet safer by using e-STOP to purge sex offenders from their sites. That some companies are continuing to ignore the e-STOP database is not only inexcusable, it is potentially dangerous,” Andrew Cuomo was stated as saying.

As a parent, I give thanks to these 15 sites. I give thanks because we are all part of this new digital community. The community is vast and dynamic – making it very difficult for even the most astute parent, to keep their children safe from harm. There is nothing more vile than the harm that these convicted sex offenders can do – to our children, families and communities. Why would companies purposely ignore e-STOP is ” not only inexcusable” but “it is potentially dangerous.”