Social Networking giant “MySpace,” has reached an agreement with forty-nine attorneys general wherein it they all agree that all parties – MySpace, law enforcement, child advocacy groups and families – must work together to protect the millions of minors who now use the largest social networking site.   During the two years of negotiations, and especially after the company came under adult leadership after it was purchased by News Corp, MySpace has implemented a large number of new authentication technologies that have already had a positive impact.  Under the leadership of NC AG Cooper and Ct. AG Blumenthal, MySpace has also agreed to form and fund an on going industry Task Force that will continue to seek new technological and policy protections.  The AG’s also urged parents to be more active in using My Space technologies to protect their kids.   As Pa.Tom Corbett wisely put it, “we don’t let our kids drive cars without careful education and testing, so why shouldn’t we do the same for the behavior of children on the internet.”

The AG’s did not sue MySpace nor have they threatened to do so (although as Ohio AG Marc Dann stated in front of the nodding AG’s present, nothing in this agreement permanently takes litigation is not off the table.  The AG’s repeatedly stated that the negotiations had at times been contentious and that disagreements continue.  That being said, in my view, this creative and cooperative approach to law enforcement will be the hallmark of future AG initiatives. The non-litigation approach is clearly a faster way to protect kids.

The AG’s and MySpace have asked other social networking sites – most specifically Facebook and Google – to sign today’s agreement.  It would be a very, very wise thing for these two companies to take this offer of cooperation seriously.