"As our states' chief legal officers, we are gravely concerned that sexual predators are using MySpace to lure children into face-to-face encounters and other dangerous activities,” wrote eight U.S. Attorney Generals to social networking website MySpace.

MySpace, the third most popular website in the U.S., has come under attack after some of its young members became victims of adult sex predators pretending as minors.

MySpace, like other social sites, allows users to create online profiles with pictures and personal information. The site’s members can send messages to one another and, in many cases, browse other profiles. The site reportedly registers 230,000 new members every day.

The site, a favorite of sexual predators, failed to safeguard its young members. In 2006 alone, there occurred almost 100 crimes involving adults who misused MySpace to victimize or attempt to victimize children. The families of many teenage girls sexually harmed by MySpace members had sued the service in January.

Sexual predators are “like sharks in the water”, comments Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. A “virtual playground” says Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal describing the website. “That combination of sex offenders and children is a recipe for tragedy,” adds Blumenthal.

The attorneys in their letter have requested MySpace to provide them with information about the total number of known registered sex offenders identified as MySpace members.  It has also asked for the details regarding the steps taken by the site to remove offenders’ profiles. The attorneys want this information latest by May 29. The attorneys also fear the possibility of thousands of hidden sexual predators visiting MySpace. The offenders could be unregistered or using fabricated identities.  The attorneys, in the letter, have also shown their concern about the site’s form, its failure to necessitate parents’ permission, and lack of safety measures to protect children. MySpace is a treasure trove of potential victims for child predators,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper. Though as a policy, MySpace does not entertain children under 14 to create profiles; it trusts users to specify their ages.

Initially, citing federal privacy laws, MySpace commented that the AGs’ demand had not followed proper legal process. However, later, it said that it has deleted and blocked “a few thousand” user profiles of convicted sex offenders. “They say they are doing that but we want to know ... exactly what steps they are taking,” said Cooper.