Henry Signs Internet Predator Bill

Governor Brad Henry signed a bill today aimed at keeping registered sex offenders from prowling MySpace and other online web sites where they might come into contact with children.

House Bill 1714 allows a judge to prohibit a registered sex offender from accessing a social networking web site in which he or she has the potential of contacting a minor. In addition, the measure gives courts the ability to require that a convicted sex offender register any email addresses and other Internet-related identification for communication.

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Anti-Predator Bill Would Protect Kids

Oklahoma children may soon be protected from online sexual predators when they use library computers.

House Bill 1715, by Rep. Paul Wesselhöft, prohibits children 12 and under from accessing the Internet at their local library unless filters have been installed or the child is under adult supervision.

"It may surprise many parents to know how accessible children become to online predators when using the Internet at a local library," said Wesselhöft, R-Moore. "It is often easier for a child to access computer chat rooms at a library because a parent is not in the area overlooking their child's activity. This is very disturbing to me."

According to ProtectKids.com, one in five children who use computer chat rooms have been approached by pedophiles. Eighty-nine percent of sexual solicitations to a minor are made in either chat rooms or instant messages.

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