The popular social networking Web site Facebook is drawing heavy criticism from New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and could have a consumer fraud charge brought against it.
Facebook Called Out On Safety Claims
Cuomo maintains that site is not living up to its claims that young people are safer from sexual predators on the site than most other sites. “We expect an immediate correction eliminating the dangers exposed by our investigation,” said the spokesman, Jeffrey Lerner to the AP.
Cuomo said last week that he had subpoenaed Facebook after the company was slow to respond to numerous complaints by investigators who were solicited for sex while acting as 12-to14-year-olds on the site. Officials from Cuomo’s office said Facebook took three days to respond to calls and emails from investigators.
An anonymous official from Cuomo’s office urged Facebook to “Correct the language describing the site and stop marketing yourself as this pristine Web site … parents have a misimpression. You can’t mislead people.”
Lerner said Facebook’s position that it was safer than most sites was accurate when the site launched 3 ½ years ago and was not open to the general public. Now that it is much larger the response times for complaints are not as timely as they once were he said.
Facebook spokeswoman Brandee Barker said last week, “We strive to uphold our high standards for privacy on Facebook and are constantly working on processes and technologies that will further improve safety and user control on the site.”
