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Microsoft Puts Police Link on Messenger

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the land-of-false-positives dept.

SirClicksalot writes "Microsoft is working together with the UK Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre to help protect Windows Live Messenger Users. UK users will be able to report suspected sexual predators directly to the police. From the article: 'Microsoft will add a "report abuse" icon to Messenger that will link any users worried about their anonymous internet buddies directly to online police services. Set up earlier this year to provide a single point of contact for the public, law enforcers and the communications industry to report the targeting of children online, CEOP offers advice and information to parents and potential victims of abuse and works with police forces around the world to protect children.'"

13 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. abuse by User+956 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Microsoft is working together with the UK Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre to help protect Windows Live Messenger Users. UK users will be able to report suspected sexual predators directly to the police.

    Oh yeah, I can't see this being abused at all. Especially by teenagers just screwing around.

    --
    The theory of relativity doesn't work right in Arkansas.
    1. Re:abuse by bwthomas · · Score: 5, Interesting

      In the US we have something called 'filing a false police report' or something similar, and as i recall it actually has some pretty scary consequences associated with it, all things considered. It would stand to reason that the UK has something analogous.

    2. Re:abuse by 56ker · · Score: 5, Informative

      IANAL but,:-

      "
      Wasting police time - section 5(2) Criminal Law Act 1967

      (Archbold 28-224)

      The offence of wasting police time is committed when a person

              * causes any wasteful employment of the police by
              * knowingly making to any person a false report orally or in writing tending to:
              * show that an offence has been committed; or,
              * give rise to apprehension for the safety of any persons or property; or,
              * show that he has information material to any police inquiry.

      It is a summary only offence carrying a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment and/or a level 4 fine.

      The public interest will favour a prosecution in any one of the following circumstances:-

              * police resources have been diverted for a significant period (for example 10 hours);
              * a substantial cost is incurred, for example a police helicopter is used or an expensive scientific examination undertaken;
              * when the false report is particularly grave or malicious;
              * considerable distress is caused to a person by the report;
              * the accused knew, or ought to have known, that police resources were under particular strain or diverted from a particularly serious inquiry;
              * there is significant premeditation in the making of the report;
              * the report is persisted in, particularly in the face of challenge.

      "

      Just in case you were wondering a level 4 fine is £2500.

      That's from the Crown Prosecution Service's website.

      --


      Video Game cheats, hints a
    3. Re:abuse by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      something called 'filing a false police report' or something similar, and as i recall it actually has some pretty scary consequences associated with it

      I don't think a worm (or someone prepared to make one) is going to be afraid of the consequences, regardless of the jurisdiction.

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    4. Re:abuse by ari{Dal} · · Score: 5, Informative

      Charges for filing false police reports are all fine and good, but how much do you think that's going to mitigate circumstances?

      Eg:

      "Headline news: Alleged pedophile Joe Sixpack arrested and detained after revolutionary new feature in MSN allows users to report for soliciting sex from underaged kids."

      Two months later, page 38, buried somewhere beneath an ad for preperation H: "Joe Sixpack acquitted of all charges. Fanny Jones arrested for filing a false police report."

      Once you're accused of being a pedophile, the damage is already done.

      --
      Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo - H. G. Wells
  2. direct to police?! by Speare · · Score: 5, Insightful

    One of the most convenient ways of destroying someone's life forever is to hint that they're a pedd-o to the police. One of the least credible sources of information is through chat and blog and instant message internet services. This sounds like a great way to completely twist the whole of society tightly around the axle for years to come.

    --
    [ .sig file not found ]
  3. I can imagine it... by UbuntuDupe · · Score: 5, Funny

    LilJen1992 says:
    __OMG LIEK TEHER IS SUM RILLY CREPY CHAP TAH WANTS ME TO ... UGHGHGHGH!!!!11
    Constable Nigel says:
    __4 ril?
    LilJen1992 says:
    __Yeh he is so grss!!!1
    Constable Nigel says:
    __kk jess gimme his s/n

    --
    Apology to Ubuntu forum.
    1. Re:I can imagine it... by Tackhead · · Score: 5, Funny
      LilJen1992 says:
      __OMG LIEK TEHER IS SUM RILLY CREPY CHAP TAH WANTS ME TO ... UGHGHGHGH!!!!11
      Constable Nigel says:
      __4 ril?
      LilJen1992 says:
      __Yeh he is so grss!!!1
      Constable Nigel says:
      __kk jess gimme his s/n

      LilJen1992 says:
      __kk its 111-111-111 plz kick hiz ass 4 me.

      Constable Nigel says:
      __aight i put on my uniform and bobby hat.

      LilJen1992 says:
      __What the f*ck, again?

      Constable Nigel says:
      __damn I still gotta write down your names or something.

  4. Thank goodness ! by TractorBarry · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well thank goodness for that.

    At last someone is thinking of the children.

    --
    Sky subscribers are morons. They pay to be advertised at !
    1. Re:Thank goodness ! by spun · · Score: 5, Funny

      At last someone is thinking of the children.

      I thought that was the problem...

      --
      - None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
  5. "Honestly officer, I didn't know it's illegal..." by Nereus · · Score: 5, Funny
    From TFA:
    In June, a 21-year-old media student from Surrey became the first person to be convicted of child grooming offences...
    Caught in possession of a child with perfectly styled hair and dapper clothing?
  6. They need more than this by ScooterBill · · Score: 5, Funny

    How about a button that alerts the IRS? or the SEC when someone on a stock chat room brags about something not quite legal? or the private investigator that's checking up on the housewife who seems to be having a bit too much fun online...

  7. Yet Another Reason... by andrewd18 · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Yet another reason to use something other than MSN for instant messaging chat programs.
    1. Integrates with my MSN Passport so people can link my screen name to location information about me.
    2. Shows everybody the e-mail address I registered with; whee!
    3. Smileys that were beaten with the ugly stick (although not as bad as the 1990's-esque AIM smileys)
    4. Integrates with Outlook Express so that I can't turn it off if I'm e-mailing (unless I hack the registry)
    5. xxxsmgpwnagexxx and kittyluv1492 can now label me as a sexual predator with a click of a button