A new state law that has been passed in Louisiana requires all convicted sex offenders to disclose their criminal status on social networks like Facebook, Twitter, Google+ & LinkedIn, according to a CNN report.
The law is actually an extension of existing legislation in the state which requires sex offenders to inform neighbors and school districts in their immediate locale of their past crimes, with the aim of providing greater transparency and awareness in the public.
The law states that convicted offenders must “…include in his profile for networking websites an indication that he is a sex offender or child predator and shall include notice of the crime for which he was convicted, the jurisdiction of conviction, a description of his physical characteristics… and his residential address.”
Those that violate it could face jail time of 2-10 years and a fine of up to 1,000 USD. Consistent violation of the law carries more severe punishment, and a second conviction could result in 5-20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 3,000 USD.
Facebook has welcomed the decision as a step forward in a statement.