Facebook Safety Claims Investigated

Facebook, the second biggest online social networking site, is facing investigation by the New York state attorney general on allegations that it misleads users by promoting its website as a place where young people can network and stay safe from adult sexual predators.

The attorney general’s office issued a subpoena Monday, Sept. 24, to Facebook for documents on its security procedures and complaints handling process. On its website, Facebook posted assurances to its 42 million users that it bans obscene or harmful material from being posted on the website, and promises to parents of young people that it will erase offensive messages and pictures, and act appropriately in response to complaints.

Investigators from the state attorney general’s office personally experienced that the Facebook claims were not actually being followed.

An investigator set up a profile of a fictitious 14-year-old girl on Aug. 30. In about a week’s time, there came a message from a 24-year-old man sent via the Facebook website asking the girl for nude pictures.

The investigator then posed as the fictitious girl’s mother and sent an e-mail complaint specifically about the man’s request to Facebook. The company sent an automated response that pledged to review the offending message and remove any posts that violated its rules.

As of Sept. 24, Facebook had not taken any action, and the 24-year-old man’s profile was still active on the site, according to the attorney general’s office. There were other instances documented by the investigating team where Facebook did not take the corrective actions it promises to do on its website.

The attorney general’s letter to Facebook also said that while the company can operate any Web site of whatever type it wants, it had no right to claim that it was safe or that it handled complaints promptly when the statements did not accurately reflect the actual situation.

This year, the attorneys general in all fifty states called on social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to tighten up on their safeguards.

In July, MySpace responded to these calls by deleting the profiles of convicted sex offenders from the Web site – at last count, 29,000 profiles had been removed, said the company.

In August, the attorney general of Connecticut aired criticisms against Facebook for allowing registered sex offenders (at least three) to set up profiles.

These safety issues come at an inopportune time for Facebook. The company is currently in talks to raise more capital from investors. There are reports that heavyweights like Microsoft and Google are considering substantial investments in the company. Interested investors have not objected to the minimum valuation of $10 billion sought by Facebook.