Facebook Settles Investigation into Online Child Safety

NEW YORK — Facebook, the social networking Web site, will overhaul its safety procedures to better protect children and other members from sexual predators and online harassment, New York's attorney general said Tuesday.

The changes, part of a settlement that ends a state probe of the company, include an improved complaint process subject to independent reviews.

They come as social networking leaders Facebook and MySpace face increasing scrutiny from regulators concerned about online child predators.

"Social networking sites are marketed to young people and they've quickly gained members and appeal," Attorney General Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference. But, he said, the "sites also act as a magnet for those who would prey on the young."

Facebook, which has about 47 million members, had faced potential consumer fraud charges from Cuomo's office for claiming that it kept children safer from predators than other sites and responded quickly to complaints.

Last month, Cuomo issued a subpoena for Facebook documents after his investigators said they found holes in those claims.

The investigators set up Facebook profiles while posing as 12- to 14-year-olds. They said they received online sexual advances within days and found extensive site content described as "pornographic and obscene."

They also found that Facebook failed or was slow to respond to complaints from investigators posing as parents.

The investigation showed that Facebook's complaint process had "slipped a little," said Chris Kelly, Facebook's chief privacy officer. He said the company worked closely with Cuomo's office to make improvements.

Cuomo said Facebook will be safer because of the settlement, which creates a "new model for child protection on the Internet."

Under the agreement, Facebook's safety procedures will include responding to and investigating complaints about harassment or inappropriate content within 24 hours and updating the person who complained within 72 hours.

For two years, an independent examiner paid for by Facebook and approved by Cuomo's office will oversee the complaint process and file regular reports and recommendations.

Facebook, based in Palo Alto, Calif., also agreed to place links throughout its site for reporting abuse. It also will change its disclosure language, warning parents that Facebook cannot guarantee the site is free of illegal behavior or inappropriate content.

Cuomo said these changes will push Facebook's competitors to improve their safety features.

He said his office is discussing online safety issues with other Web sites and social networking services, but he would not name them.

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, co-chair of a social networking task force of all 50 attorneys general, called the New York settlement a good step, but said Facebook needs to do more to protect children.

"We will demand that Facebook take powerful, practical measures — age and identity verification, parental consent, purging inappropriate content, restrictions on minor access to inappropriate material," he said in a statement.

He said other needed changes include hiding minors' profiles from adults, limiting minors' search options, and using filtering technology to block sexually explicit, racist and violent images.

"Our national coalition will continue fighting to make Facebook and other social networking sites safer," he said. "We will explore all options — including possible legal action."

On the Web:

N.Y. attorney general: www.oag.state.ny.us

Facebook: www.facebook.com

MySpace: www.myspace.com