Assemblyman Scott Rumana SAYS MYSPACE STABBING ATTACK SHOWS NEED FOR STRICTER INTERNET CONTROLS

RUMANA & O'TOOLE SPONSOR LEGISLATION TO PROTECT MINORS

Assemblyman Scott Rumana today said a MySpace fight between two girls that resulted in the stabbing of a 12-year-old is a prime example of why legislation he sponsored that protects personal information of children from being posted on the Internet and prohibits users from assuming false identities is necessary.

“The Internet has become a virtual free-for-all of personal information and solicitation, allowing for the exploitation of children,” explained Rumana, R-Passaic, Bergen and Essex. “The explosion of this technology is a double-edged sword. It allows adults to assume false identities for purpose of contacting unsuspecting children and it allows minors to assume other identities so that their actions cannot be monitored by their parents.

“Social networking websites have become a dangerous tool by which adults can exploit innocent children and by which minors can spread rumors about others or make threats, thus endangering themselves and others,” he continued.

The Star Ledger reported today that when an 18-year-old saw her boyfriend’s 12-year-old niece erasing a comment off a MySpace site, the teenager went into a wild rage and she stabbed the young girl three times with a folding knife. A witness said the two girls had argued before the attack.

Last month, Rumana sponsored bill A-2755 which prohibits posting of certain personal information on the Internet or misrepresentation of identity on the Internet for the purpose of harassment of a minor child (less than 16 years old).

“For the safety and welfare of our children, I am urging my fellow lawmakers to move quickly on this legislation,” he said.

State Senator Kevin O’Toole, R- Passaic, Bergen and Essex, has sponsored an identical bill, S-580.