Wanted: Sex offenders' e-mail addresses

New York lawmakers proposed legislation that would provide new protection from convicted sex offenders hanging out on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace.

The bill would require sex offenders to register instant messaging and e-mail addresses, which would then be passed to social networking sites. The sites could then block access to the network by the sex offenders.

MySpace and Facebook said they will block access to such offenders.

Both Facebook and MySpace have been criticised for failing to do more to police their sites against sexual predators, particularly adults who prey on children and teenagers. The social networking sites have countered that they need stronger state and federal laws to keep out offenders.

"The internet is great and affords us all sorts of opportunities and promise, but there are also perils on the Internet," New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference to unveil the Electronic Security and Targeting of Online Predators Act.

Under the law, Mr Cuomo said, a number of sex offenders would be banned from using social network sites altogether. The courts and parole board would have the ability to prohibit sex offenders who used the internet to commit the crime or victimised a minor, from accessing Facebook, MySpace or other social networking sites.

Mr Cuomo called it "the most comprehensive, smartest, toughest law in the nation" related to social networking sites.

"Our laws need to keep up with our times," said MySpace chief security officer Hemanshu Nigam, describing the legislation as "a powerful new tool to protect our users."