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New York Culls Sex Offenders From the Online Gaming Ranks

Posted by timothy on from the cradle-to-grave dept.

SternisheFan writes with a story at PC Mag that New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman has announced that more than 2000 registered sex offenders have been kicked off various online gaming platforms, in an cooperative effort involving both the state and various gaming companies. From that article: "Earlier this year, the accounts of 3,500 additional offenders were removed from platforms operated by Microsoft, Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Disney Interactive Media Group, and Warner Brothers. New York State's Electronic Securing and Targeting of Online Predators Act (e-STOP) law requires convicted sex offenders to register all of their email addresses, screen names, and other Internet identifiers with the state. Schneiderman's office then makes that information available to certain websites so they can make sure that their communities were not being used by predators. Operation: Game Over, however, is the first time e-STOP has been applied to online gaming platforms, he said. Since many online gaming platforms let users send messages to other players anonymously, it's unsafe to have convicted offenders using these services, Schneiderman said."

7 of 511 comments (clear)

  1. Labels by IonOtter · · Score: 5, Funny

    I would be much less worried about this, if it weren't for the fact that the label of "sex offender" is used for everything where genitalia are involved.

    Did the cops follow you 20 yards into the thick forest along the interstate to catch you peeing? Sex offender.

    Did your top get ripped off and carried away in the surf at Jones Beach? Sex offender.

    Did you scratch yourself when a cop was looking? Sex offender.

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    [End Of Line]
    1. Re:Labels by Jaysyn · · Score: 3, Funny

      Happens all the time actually.

      Absolutely yes, in the US. In the past public urination was charged as indecent exposure. There was little thought to how that was worded until the sex offender registry became so broad that it included all who were convicted of this crime. Thousands of people register for public urination, mooning, streaking and many other acts that don't fit the image we have of a sex offender.

      http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Can_you_get_put_on_the_sex_offenders_registry_for_public_urination

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      There is a war going on for your mind.
  2. Re:YAY I'm so glad!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    you sound hot.

  3. Re:Why not just block messaging? by PhxBlue · · Score: 5, Funny

    Or maybe you Christian-right nannies should fuck right off.

    They're going to need an instruction manual to do that. Just sayin'.

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    !#@%*)anks for hanging up the phone, dear.
  4. Different Games by coinreturn · · Score: 4, Funny

    They should at least be able to play in some MMORPG that allows ONLY registered sex offenders to play.

  5. Re:This will obviously help. by Snotnose · · Score: 3, Funny

    Basically there is a big difference in banning someone from "My Little Pony Online" vs "Call of Duty Modern Bang Bang."

    Not to mention games aimed at adults, like Call of Booty, Bang Bang ur mom.

  6. Re:Why not just block messaging? by SilentStaid · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, the guy DID have a penis with him when he got drunk a the bar...

    And he didn't later?!? Jesus, those DWI punishments have gotten steep.