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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| MySpace is sued over child safety | MySpace is sued over child safety |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| MySpace is being sued by the families of five teenage girls who it is claimed were sexually assaulted by men they met through the social networking website. | MySpace is being sued by the families of five teenage girls who it is claimed were sexually assaulted by men they met through the social networking website. |
| The negligence and fraud suit against the popular site, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, was filed at a court in Los Angeles. | The negligence and fraud suit against the popular site, owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation, was filed at a court in Los Angeles. |
| It comes after a similar lawsuit was filed by the parents of a 14-year-old American girl last year. | It comes after a similar lawsuit was filed by the parents of a 14-year-old American girl last year. |
| Last year, MySpace increased security measures to protect its younger users. | Last year, MySpace increased security measures to protect its younger users. |
| 'Common sense' | 'Common sense' |
| In April 2006, the website hired a former prosecutor in the US Justice Department's internet child exploitation unit, Hemanshu Nigam, as its chief security officer. | In April 2006, the website hired a former prosecutor in the US Justice Department's internet child exploitation unit, Hemanshu Nigam, as its chief security officer. |
| Ultimately, internet safety is a shared responsibility Hemanshu NigamMySpace safety officer Can MySpace protect teens? | |
| It also made it impossible for users aged 18 and above to contact 14 and 15-year-old members, unless they knew the younger person's email address. | It also made it impossible for users aged 18 and above to contact 14 and 15-year-old members, unless they knew the younger person's email address. |
| The girls involved in the latest lawsuits were all aged between 14 - the minimum age for a MySpace account - and 15. | The girls involved in the latest lawsuits were all aged between 14 - the minimum age for a MySpace account - and 15. |
| "In our view, MySpace waited entirely too long to attempt to institute meaningful security measures that effectively increase the safety of their underage users," said Jason Itkin, a lawyer for one of the firms representing the families. | "In our view, MySpace waited entirely too long to attempt to institute meaningful security measures that effectively increase the safety of their underage users," said Jason Itkin, a lawyer for one of the firms representing the families. |
| However Mr Nigam said that "ultimately, internet safety is a shared responsibility". | However Mr Nigam said that "ultimately, internet safety is a shared responsibility". |
| "We encourage everyone to apply common sense offline security lessons in their online experiences and engage in open family dialogue about smart web practices," he added. | "We encourage everyone to apply common sense offline security lessons in their online experiences and engage in open family dialogue about smart web practices," he added. |
| News Corporation's shares rose 1.7% in Thursday trading. | News Corporation's shares rose 1.7% in Thursday trading. |
| It bought MySpace for $580m (£333m) in July 2005. | It bought MySpace for $580m (£333m) in July 2005. |