Operation: Game Over removes over 2,100 sexual offenders from online games

Over 2,100 registered sex offenders in New York have had their accounts removed from online gaming platforms as part of Operation: Game Over, a pioneer movement in protecting children from online predators, US Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced today.

Gaia Online, NCsoft, FunCon, Sony and THQ are the most recent companies to participate in the initiative. These five companies purged the recent 2,100 accounts belonging to registered sex offenders in the New York state. This is the first time the state's Electronic Securing and Targeting of Online Predators Act (e-STOP), which requires convicted offenders to share e-mail addresses and all other Internet identities with the state, has been used to prevent potential predators from using online gaming platforms.

Earlier this year more than 3,500 offenders' accounts were removed from services run by Apple, Blizzard, Disney Interactive, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, and Warner Bros. Interactive.

"The Internet is the crime scene of the 21st century, and we must ensure that online video game platforms do not become a digital playground for dangerous predators," ," said Attorney General Schneiderman in a press release. "That means doing everything possible to block sex offenders from using gaming systems as a vehicle to prey on underage victims.

"I applaud the online gaming companies that have purged registered sex offenders from their networks in time for the holiday season," he added. "Together, we are making the online community a safer place for the children of New York."