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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Plan to list paedophile web names | Plan to list paedophile web names |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sex offenders could be forced to register their e-mail addresses and chatroom names, the government says. | Sex offenders could be forced to register their e-mail addresses and chatroom names, the government says. |
| Home Secretary John Reid said he may make paedophiles put online identity details on the Sex Offenders Register. | Home Secretary John Reid said he may make paedophiles put online identity details on the Sex Offenders Register. |
| Mechanisms would be set up to "flag up" approaches by them to sites popular among youngsters, he told the BBC. | Mechanisms would be set up to "flag up" approaches by them to sites popular among youngsters, he told the BBC. |
| One computer expert said this was a step in the right direction, but added internet identities could be changed "in a matter of seconds". | One computer expert said this was a step in the right direction, but added internet identities could be changed "in a matter of seconds". |
| Broader | Broader |
| Mr Reid said: "We already have probably the toughest regime in Europe for identifying sex offenders. | Mr Reid said: "We already have probably the toughest regime in Europe for identifying sex offenders. |
| "But although we are strong, we have to keep ahead of the game and I want to bring in stronger, broader powers to protect our children." | "But although we are strong, we have to keep ahead of the game and I want to bring in stronger, broader powers to protect our children." |
| He told the BBC: "If we did that we would then be able to set up mechanisms that would flag up anyone using those addresses or those identities to make approaches and contacts through some of the very popular internet spaces which are used by kids." | He told the BBC: "If we did that we would then be able to set up mechanisms that would flag up anyone using those addresses or those identities to make approaches and contacts through some of the very popular internet spaces which are used by kids." |
| I have about five e-mail addresses. It's easy to set up a new one in seconds Cliff Saran, Computer Weekly | |
| Cliff Saran, technology editor of Computer Weekly, told the BBC News website: "I have about five e-mail addresses. It's easy to set up a new one in seconds... it's going to be hard to track that." | Cliff Saran, technology editor of Computer Weekly, told the BBC News website: "I have about five e-mail addresses. It's easy to set up a new one in seconds... it's going to be hard to track that." |
| The same applied to chatrooms and networks like MSN, he added - "Come up with a suitable name, and off you go." | The same applied to chatrooms and networks like MSN, he added - "Come up with a suitable name, and off you go." |
| He said the government's move was a step in the right direction and the industry would co-operate - but opportunities would arise for organisations to market "premium" - allegedly untraceable - e-mail accounts. | He said the government's move was a step in the right direction and the industry would co-operate - but opportunities would arise for organisations to market "premium" - allegedly untraceable - e-mail accounts. |
| "That's the nature of the internet, and the internet's global," said Mr Saran. | "That's the nature of the internet, and the internet's global," said Mr Saran. |
| If everyone had a single internet identity for life, like a National Insurance number, this would make it far easier to track people, he said. | If everyone had a single internet identity for life, like a National Insurance number, this would make it far easier to track people, he said. |
| Child internet safety expert John Carr, of children's charity NCH, said: "This is a very welcome move. | Child internet safety expert John Carr, of children's charity NCH, said: "This is a very welcome move. |
| "It will mean that we can extend the Sex Offenders Register regime into cyberspace and that will be a great comfort to many people." | "It will mean that we can extend the Sex Offenders Register regime into cyberspace and that will be a great comfort to many people." |
| Alert | Alert |
| Under present rules, sex offenders must list their name and address on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of years after conviction or even for the rest of their lives. | Under present rules, sex offenders must list their name and address on the Sex Offenders Register for a period of years after conviction or even for the rest of their lives. |
| The latest proposal means their online identities would be treated in exactly the same way as their real name, a Home Office spokesman said. | The latest proposal means their online identities would be treated in exactly the same way as their real name, a Home Office spokesman said. |
| "The home secretary also wants to look at whether it is technologically feasible to set up a system where if someone enters a chatroom with an identity that was already listed on the register, it would 'ping' an alert on the relevant people's computers, enabling them to take appropriate action," he added. | "The home secretary also wants to look at whether it is technologically feasible to set up a system where if someone enters a chatroom with an identity that was already listed on the register, it would 'ping' an alert on the relevant people's computers, enabling them to take appropriate action," he added. |
| Failure to divulge all the information required could lead to a jail term of up to five years. | Failure to divulge all the information required could lead to a jail term of up to five years. |
| The announcement coincides with European Safer Internet Day. | The announcement coincides with European Safer Internet Day. |