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Internet dating bill would allow a simple name search to suffice for a criminal background check

Online dating and social networking sites have made news in recent months with convicted sex offenders and other criminals reportedly using the services to solicit minors.

In October of 2006, Wired editor Kevin Poulson used a Perl script to search MySpace and found 744 convicted sexual predators were using the service. In September of 2007, Facebook had similar problems when the New York Attorney general issued subpoenas against the company after complaints received claiming solicitation of minors on the site.

A New Jersey dating safety bill, known as the Internet Dating Safety Act (PDF), sponsored by Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein from District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex) is still being pushed in the New Jersey State Senate despite having acknowledged flaws. The bill as introduced requires online dating services to disclose to any user from New Jersey whether it has performed background checks on members of the site.

The flawed part of the bill comes in the fact that to satisfy the bill’s “Criminal Background screening” all a site has to do is a simple name search via a regularly updated government public records database or a database maintained by a private vendor. Any user of the Internet and social networking or dating sites knows that many users don’t provide their real names. The bill makes no provisions for dating services to check backgrounds via information that like social security numbers and to corroborate the data to be sure the member is who they claim to be.

What the bill lacks in actual real world effectiveness it makes up for in bold, all capital letter disclaimers required to be posted in at least 12-point type to New Jersey users. The disclaimers include such common sense nuggets of wisdom like:

  • "Anyone who is able to commit identity theft can also falsify a dating profile."
  • "There is no substitute for acting with caution when communicating with any stranger who wants to meet you."
  • "Never include your last name, e-mail address, home address, phone number, place of work, or any other identifying information in your Internet profile or initial e-mail messages."
  • "Screenings do not cover other types of convictions or arrests or any convictions from foreign countries."

The bill would also require internet dating services to notify users from New Jersey if it does criminal background screenings and what actions the site takes if members are found to have criminal backgrounds. The bill would not hold the Internet service provider in violation by acting as an intermediary for the transmission of electronic messages between members of the service.

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Figures
By Polynikes on 11/26/2007 1:18:47 PM , Rating: 5
Who's surprised by this? Not me. Yet another example of the government trying to babysit its citizens, by making useless laws that only help when the citizen fails to make a simple common sense check.




RE: Figures
By RandomStyuff on 11/26/2007 1:28:58 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
useless laws that only help when the citizen fails to make a simple common sense check.


The problem is, too many citizens fail too many of those common sense checks. I've made really stupid mistakes which I now regret, and now seem like common sense, and I'm sure you and everyone else here has too...

Look at all the Nigerian scams. If everyone always used common sense, would we have those scams? How about (more on topic) all the people who have been harmed by the events like this law is attempting to stop? If there wasn't a need, I doubt we would have seen this law!

I don't think it will be very effective though. I know many people who ignore these things all the time, sort of like Vista's UAC really...


RE: Figures
By mdogs444 on 11/26/2007 1:39:53 PM , Rating: 4
quote:
Look at all the Nigerian scams. If everyone always used common sense, would we have those scams?

Anyone who falls for those Nigerian email or postal mail scams deserves to be hit in the head with a billy club. Its not even common sense, its pure stupidity.

quote:
How about (more on topic) all the people who have been harmed by the events like this law is attempting to stop?

You mean like the people who respond to those "one night sexual encounter" ads on craigslist? people need to get out more - go meet someone in person at a bar, park, restaraunt, work, etc. online dating is mainly for people who either a)make excuses that they are too busy, when really they are losers who do not know how to talk to the opposite sex, or b)people who wont try to pick someone up in person because there is something wrong w/ them.

Its hard enough trusting people when you look them in the eye, much less trust people who is typing to you on the other end. You're looking for a 20yr old female, but you're really typing to a 49yr old sexual predator imitating a 20yr old female.

Cmon people, get out more into the real world - not everything our parents and grandparents did was bad - and using technology for change isnt always good.

Get out for some good, old fashioned face to face communication with your fellow people.


RE: Figures
By clovell on 11/26/2007 1:50:11 PM , Rating: 2
Ive got to agree with you on this one, mdogs. There are a lot of things a person can be stupid about - shoelaces, restaurants, haircuts, etc and get away with relatively unscathed.

But, money and dating are things that need to be approached with some sense and with some respect.


RE: Figures
By RandomStyuff on 11/26/2007 2:01:28 PM , Rating: 2
I agree, but facts show that this is not always done. Not everyone approaches these things with the common sense needed.


RE: Figures
By RandomStyuff on 11/26/2007 1:59:46 PM , Rating: 1
quote:
Anyone who falls for those Nigerian email or postal mail scams deserves to be hit in the head with a billy club. Its not even common sense, its pure stupidity.


Well, in that case this law is to stop people from getting a hit on the head with a billy club.

quote:
You mean like the people who respond to those "one night sexual encounter" ads on craigslist? people need to get out more - go meet someone in person at a bar, park, restaraunt, work, etc. online dating is mainly for people who either a)make excuses that they are too busy, when really they are losers who do not know how to talk to the opposite sex, or b)people who wont try to pick someone up in person because there is something wrong w/ them.


I don't think that is the only use of online dating. My uncle met his (now) wife through online dating, and they are happy together and everything, so I don't think that there is anything wrong with the idea. I, personally, don't think that I will every try it out (not that desperate) but it does sometimes work.

That's also why you meet in (if you meet at all) a public, well populated place and not in some apartment or alleyway...

The fact is, people are meeting others online, and you probably can't really stop that without doing something shaky in terms of the US constitution, so the best you can do is try to help the people who do it anyways think about what they are doing.

I don't think it will stop anything, but at least it shows that some people are becoming more aware of the problem.


RE: Figures
By mdogs444 on 11/26/2007 2:06:55 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Well, in that case this law is to stop people from getting a hit on the head with a billy club.

Disagree, I prefer "survival of the fittest" approach. If we keep bailing those people out, our society will turn into one similar to that of the movie "Idiocracy" ;-)

quote:
don't think that is the only use of online dating. My uncle met his (now) wife through online dating, and they are happy together and everything, so I don't think that there is anything wrong with the idea.

Don't get me wrong - I know people who have met people online and are/were dating &/or friends after. However, it's just bad news typically. Sure, theres good people out there - but since you cannot tell the good from the bad, I think its a bad idea. Just like those dating hotlines from the 80's and 90's.

quote:
That's also why you meet in (if you meet at all) a public, well populated place and not in some apartment or alleyway...

Again, that would be common sense....and now approaching the second "billy club" scenario.

quote:
The fact is, people are meeting others online, and you probably can't really stop that without doing something shaky in terms of the US constitution, so the best you can do is try to help the people who do it anyways think about what they are doing.

Sure, people are going to do it, no doubt. And its not up to me to tell them not to. But as long as they dont come crying to the taxpayers to help them out because something bad happended, then I dont care. There is no reason to change our consitutition to provide a means for people to date on the internet - its called use proper judgement, and if you choose not to use proper judgement then be prepared for the consequences.

quote:
I don't think it will stop anything, but at least it shows that some people are becoming more aware of the problem.

I agree, and how to solve the problem? Tell them to quit being mush-heads and get a real life.


RE: Figures
By FITCamaro on 11/26/2007 2:30:56 PM , Rating: 2
With you. If people want to do something, they better be prepared to live with the consequences. Good or bad.

"Hmm....a 35 year old guy who lives at home and lists his profession as 'Other'....can't possibly be a bad idea."


RE: Figures
By Polynikes on 11/26/2007 3:32:34 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
If we keep bailing those people out, our society will turn into one similar to that of the movie "Idiocracy"

*Involuntary shudder*

The sad thing is, you're probably right, though obviously it won't get THAT bad.

I hope.


RE: Figures
By mdogs444 on 11/26/2007 3:38:36 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
though obviously it won't get THAT bad


I know, it was a joke - but definately something to think about after seeing that movie...

At least I hope you're right that it wont get THAT bad. Nothing seems to surprise me anymore.


RE: Figures
By Polynikes on 11/26/2007 7:05:24 PM , Rating: 2
I guess only time will tell. :)

Or perhaps a more appropriate emoticon would be :\


RE: Figures
By RandomStyuff on 11/26/2007 4:46:35 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Disagree, I prefer "survival of the fittest" approach. If we keep bailing those people out, our society will turn into one similar to that of the movie "Idiocracy" ;-)

Well, in that case(according to you), you should be letting those people go out and get raped/killed/whatever because they are not of that fittest group...

Don't tell me there haven't been times when you lost common sense. I can tell you that I have, even in subjects like dating and money (especially in dating, but then again... well, it's not the same type of not having common sense;)...)

quote:
Again, that would be common sense....and now approaching the second "billy club" scenario.


Ok, I see where that point might not have been too valid... but it shows you that online dating can be done safely, so there shouldn't be any problem with it...

Going back to why online dating. There is a TV show called "How I Met Your Mother" which I have started to watch with some friends. Describes the path of a guy in finding "the one" and basically he is telling his kids how he met their mother. Basically, what I am trying to say is that sometimes no matter how much you try you can't find someone who fits you, so you try looking outside of your normal area... there are 300 million people in the US, lets say about half women, and, how many would be the person's age (any age group...)...
I don't have any statistics or anything, but there are many, too many to go one by one looking... I am the last person to defend the idea of online dating (when my friends are gonna see this they will be shocked...) but it does have good uses...

quote:
as they dont come crying to the taxpayers to help them out because something bad happended, then I dont care


Maybe thats what this is for, being able to say "don't come crying to us, we told you so". In that case, it wouldn't be a bill as flawed as some people make it seem!


RE: Figures
By RandomStyuff on 11/26/2007 5:43:42 PM , Rating: 2
Sorry, now that I have reread the article I understand why it is flawed. I guess I some how skipped that part when reading it the first time...

Still, it is probably a small step forward in the awareness of the problem with online dating.


RE: Figures
By rcc on 11/26/2007 7:15:59 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Disagree, I prefer "survival of the fittest" approach. If we keep bailing those people out,


Ah, natural selection. Unfortunately with all the current protective laws we are selecting for stupidity. And people then complain that that is the result. Go figure.

Where children are involved however, it shouldn't be law, it should be parental direction. We try to bring them up such that natural selection would work in their favor, if it were allowed to work at all.


RE: Figures
By Haven Bartton on 11/26/2007 2:35:35 PM , Rating: 3
There are dangers with online dating, of course, but are they really any more than meeting someone at a bar? At least when you're online you're (typically) sober and physically distant from the person. And webcams can help compensate for the whole "40-year old man" cheat.

I think online dating sites work best for people with very specific interests who are looking for specific types of people they wouldn't typically run into during their day.


RE: Figures
By mdogs444 on 11/26/2007 2:40:21 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
I think online dating sites work best for people with very specific interests who are looking for specific types of people they wouldn't typically run into during their day.

Exactly:
A) Like when a 40 yr old man who is a sexual predator posing as a 20 yr old college boy, finds a 19 yr old college girl who is actually another 40 yr old sexual predator.

B) Freak seeks out other Freak - because neither or accepted in normal society (outside of San Fransisco of course)


RE: Figures
By vhx on 11/26/2007 3:05:50 PM , Rating: 2
Lol. Do you honestly think everyone online looking for a partner is a scumbag or liar? If so, you yourself has failed the common sense check. People DO take precautions these days.


RE: Figures
By mdogs444 on 11/26/2007 3:16:27 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Do you honestly think everyone online looking for a partner is a scumbag or liar?

Probably not...but i would rather not find out. Either way, its quite obvious that either A)they lack much needed social skills and are hiding behind a computer, or B)there is something wrong with them.

quote:
If so, you yourself has failed the common sense check.

Quite laughable. Back to your online Craigslist dating you freakin weirdo.

quote:
People DO take precautions these days.

And 14 year olds never get pregnant these days. Hey, heres an idea...lets give out forms of contraceptives in a public schools to kids who are too young to legally have sex to begin with!

That was just another form of a "government" agency creating a law for something instead of teaching what is right and wrong - its a cop out of self responsibility.