The Florida Senate

¹943.0437  Commercial social networking websites.--

(1)  For the purpose of this section, the term "commercial social networking website" means a commercially operated Internet website that allows users to create web pages or profiles that provide information about themselves and are available publicly or to other users and that offers a mechanism for communication with other users, such as a forum, chat room, electronic mail, or instant messenger.

(2)  The department may provide information relating to electronic mail addresses and instant message names maintained as part of the sexual offender registry to commercial social networking websites or third parties designated by commercial social networking websites. The commercial social networking website may use this information for the purpose of comparing registered users and screening potential users of the commercial social networking website against the list of electronic mail addresses and instant message names provided by the department.

(3)  This section shall not be construed to impose any civil liability on a commercial social networking website for:

(a)  Any action voluntarily taken in good faith to remove or disable any profile of a registered user associated with an electronic mail address or instant message name contained in the sexual offender registry.

(b)  Any action taken to restrict access by such registered user to the commercial social networking website.

History.--s. 14, ch. 2007-143.

¹Note.--Section 13, ch. 2007-143, provides that "[i]n the express interest of the protection of citizens, particularly children, who use the Internet, it is the intent of the Legislature that the collection and distribution of the electronic mail address and instant message name information of sexual predators and sexual offenders be maintained and distributed in a manner to maximize public safety benefits while minimizing and avoiding to the greatest extent possible any use of this information for any illegal purposes including harassment and networking among individuals for illegal purposes. Additionally, care should be taken in the distribution of this information to avoid circumstances which allow ready access to such information by minors."