Pedophile Wins: Facebook Forced To Remove Sex Offender Monitoring Page
A convicted sex offender was offended when he saw his picture and criminal history posted on Facebook.
The page on which his information was posted was titled “Keeping Our Kids Safe From Predators” and was purposed monitor pedophiles and to notify locals of sex offenders in Northern Ireland communities.
But the sex offender, known only as XY, claimed that the page aimed to “vilify” him.
On Friday, Facebook was ordered to remove the page after XY took his case to court — and won.
The case was brought in Belfast, Ireland by XY, who had been sentenced to six years in prison for a collection of crimes against children more that two decades ago.
XY’s offenses against children began when he was still a juvenile.
The offender claimed that he feared being attacked or “burned out of his rented accommodation” after his photograph was posted along with threatening comments on the social networking site.
A Belfast High Court judge Friday ruled that some of the contents on the Facebook page — ‘Keeping Our Kids Safe From Predators’ — amounted to” harassment” of the man and “risked infringing on his human rights.”
The judge said the man — who can’t be identified due to the nature of his crimes — had already been punished for his sex offenses “in accordance with the rule of law,” although he was released early from his prison sentence.
The judge added: “He has been punished by incarceration and he is subject to substantial daily restrictions on his lifestyle.”
While Facebook removed the man’s photograph and related comments, company lawyers maintain that was unnecessary to remove a page used by 4,000 people. While Facebook lawyers fought to keep the page open, the sex offender continued to seek the closing of the page and the disclosure of the identity or identities of those who set up and ran it.
Facebook was given 72 hours to remove the page. It was taken down on Friday.
A new page with a similar title has already appeared on the site.
Do you think that pages like “Keeping Our Kids Safe” should be removed?
![‘Brady Bunch’ Reunion Takes Place At Kings Island [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Brady-Bunch-Reunion-100x100.jpg)
![Justin Bieber Booed During Emotional Billboard Awards Milestone Speech [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Justin-Bieber-Booed-During-Emotional-Billboard-Awards-Milestone-Speech-Video-100x100.jpg)
![Missouri Teen Dies In First Solo Drive While Texting [Video]](http://cdn.inquisitr.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/savannah-nash-dies-texting-while-driving-2013-video-100x100.jpg)
Dec 4, 2012
Of course you missed the whole point here. It wasn't the page but the threats of murder, violence, and retribution. The courts ruled correctly; the man has already served his sentence.
Dec 4, 2012
I myself am a Parent and would like to have the info, of where them Monsters are at all times!
Dec 4, 2012
Do the crime deal with the repercussions. His victims lives will never be the same why should his. Have him live under scrutiny for his EVERY move until he is no longer on this earth.
Dec 4, 2012
no it should be on there I want to know where all the sex offenders are its not any different then any other website where you can find there picture and there info. You do the crime you got to do the time. He got out to early didn't even do his whole sentence. people like that should be shot.
Dec 4, 2012
His victims lives will forever be ruined, why should he just get off and forget it ever happened. He did his time with the state, but society has a right to monitor him as long as he is able to attack again. If freedom and anonymity was a concern he should have never committed a sex crime. These people are below animals, they need leashes and cages and 24 hr monitoring as long as he is able to attack- not freedom.
Dec 4, 2012
No children r safe now a days. These pedophiles get want they want. They did the crime should live wat other people do 2 them. Wat about the victims, nothing. People need 2 know where the a$$holes live. We need 2 protect our kids.
Dec 4, 2012
Do not remove the page. We need to know where these people are. If they do the crime I think they waive their rights, but why should we!
Dec 4, 2012
these creeps shouldnt ever see the light of day let alone be allowed to be on the internet. if i had my way theyw ouldnt be living
Dec 4, 2012
If you are going to punish all pedophiles then you have to punish most of the advertising firms as well when they dress up children to look they are 25. The courts did the right thing. BTW not all sex offenders are pedophiles and most pedophiles are straight identified white males.
Dec 4, 2012
Put all that scum on an island and let them have fun with each other then bomb it
Dec 4, 2012
Why is it that when society hears the term "sex offender" it ultimately means their crime involved a child? It's because of perverse shows such as To Catch a Predator and the mass media that exploit these crimes and amounts to nothing more than a witch hunt. I'm not condoning the crime nor giving sympathy to these offenders, but you're not going to solve the problem by demonizing pedophiles and enacting stricter sentences. It just doesn't work. You're only encouraging more anti social behavior and the likelihood that they will offend again. Perhaps finding what factors lead people to commit these crimes and providing treatment will prevent future incidents.
Dec 4, 2012
Sex offenders should be banned from using Facebook and every and all other websites. I think their info should be posted, so parents can be cautious regarding the well being of their children. His paying for his "crime" does not constitute his forgiveness or freedom from the horrendous nature of his crime. Once a sex offender always a sex offender.
Dec 4, 2012
Freedom of speech. He wants his "freedom" then let others express their disgust at his actions. His bed, let him remember every second of every day what he has done while lying in it. Let him look over his shoulder and feel terror every second until he dies. GOOD. He deserves it.
Dec 4, 2012
Just amazing that a repeat sex offender has any rights to arrest privacy.
Dec 4, 2012
I was a victim. It impacted my entire life.Made me make wrong choices. I don't feel sorry for them.I loath them.
Dec 4, 2012
Please please keep our children safe.
Dec 5, 2012
I think the Irish need to STOP mimicking the USA with it's sex offender policies. It doesn't work here and it wont work there.
Dec 5, 2012
I had someone tell me a child molester was coming in the building I run I call the cops to get a picture to make sure I had the rigth guy because I had children living here and wanted to get a protection order so he could not come into the building the cops said no they couldn't give me a picture that was against his rights but I said he was on the news they said yes but they couldn't give out his name or picture so I call the paper here in halifax a very kind lady send me a picture and sure enough it was the guy so the owner run in paper and banned him from this property.dirt like him have to many rights that why they get away with reofending over and over again keep the sight up itis hard to get a picture and name of child molesters it is hard to protect the children of the world.
Dec 5, 2012
Just to play devils advocate it's not necessarily keeping anyone safe if you don't know the nature of someones crime, several teenagers in the past couple of years have been added to the sex offenders list for doing such as taking pictures of them selves nude and having it leaked stupid yes but they aren't pedophiles.
Dec 5, 2012
As far as I'm concerned, he doesnt deserve any mercy. Did he show his victims any mercy? Does he rehash their cries for him to stop or the horror of the deed? I dont think so. I dont care if they say it's a sickness or not. These people need castrated. They also need to be banned from face book. They could be searching for another victim.
Dec 18, 2012
Sex crimes against children are horrendous crimes, but what is with the focus in some of the comments on banning pedophiles from Facebook? The case here dealt with using Facebook to stalk a pedophile, not the use of Facebook by a pedophile to stalk children. http://lawblog.legalmatch.com/2012/12/17/judge-stops-facebook-users-tracking-pedophiles/