Robert and Elizabeth are chatting over a cup of coffee, with each other and on-line. Elizabeth uses AOL and Face Book. "I usually go on like everyday checking my email or talking to friends. My AIM is almost always on." said Elizabeth.
It's a brave new on-line world filled with chatters cloaked in screen names. "I don't really chat on line with people I don't know. It's just with friends." said Robert. "But there's definitely people on there that you don't know. Sometimes they want to 'friend' you and you're not quite sure who it is." added Elizabeth.
"The internet with it's promise of anonymity is the perfect tool for convicted sex offenders who are on probation or parole." said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. It is the reason the state law makers announced a new law that will require sex offenders to register their on-line screen names with the police. If they don't it's a felony.
It also allows social networking sites to share information and remove sex offenders from their sites. Companies like Face Book and My Space are already on board. "They will take that directory as soon as it's formed, and will run it against there list. They will delete the users from there sites there-by making their sites safer and notifying law enforcement. " said New York State Attorney Genera Andrew Cuomo.
It's another step to protect Elizabeth and Robert, who are already taking steps to protect themselves. "I've gotten AIM's from people I haven't known. I usually ask them if I know them or else I won't talk to them. I usually try to stay away from those people" said Elizabeth.
The new law would be retro-active calling, on all registered sex offenders to participate. For now, it only applies to New York State.
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