34 USC 20916 - Direction to the Attorney General

United States Code

USC most recently checked for updates: Jun 09, 2025

§ 20915. Duration of registration requirement

§ 20917. Checking system for social networking websites

U.S. Code
Notes

§ 20916.

Direction to the Attorney General

(a)

Requirement that sex offenders provide certain Internet related information to sex offender registries

The Attorney General, using the authority provided in section 114(a)(7) 1

 See References in Text note below.

of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act [34 U.S.C. 20914(a)(7)], shall require that each sex offender provide to the sex offender registry those Internet identifiers the sex offender uses or will use of any type that the Attorney General determines to be appropriate under that Act [34 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.]. These records of Internet identifiers shall be subject to the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. 552a) to the same extent as the other records in the National Sex Offender Registry.

(b)

Timeliness of reporting of information

The Attorney General, using the authority provided in section 112(b) of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act [34 U.S.C. 20912(b)], shall specify the time and manner for keeping current information required to be provided under this section.

(c)

Nondisclosure to general public

The Attorney General, using the authority provided in section 118(b)(4) of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act [34 U.S.C. 20920(b)(4)], shall exempt from disclosure all information provided by a sex offender under subsection (a).

(d)

Notice to sex offenders of new requirements

The Attorney General shall ensure that procedures are in place to notify each sex offender of changes in requirements that apply to that sex offender as a result of the implementation of this section.

(e)

Definitions

(1)

Of “social networking website”

As used in this Act, the term “social networking website”—

(A)

means an Internet website—

(i)

that allows users, through the creation of web pages or profiles or by other means, to provide information about themselves that is available to the public or to other users; and

(ii)

that offers a mechanism for communication with other users where such users are likely to include a substantial number of minors; and

(iii)

whose primary purpose is to facilitate online social interactions; and

(B)

includes any contractors or agents used by the website to act on behalf of the website in carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2)

Of “Internet identifiers”

As used in this Act, the term “Internet identifiers” means electronic mail addresses and other designations used for self-identification or routing in Internet communication or posting.

(3)

Other terms

A term defined for the purposes of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act [34 U.S.C. 20901 et seq.] has the same meaning in this Act.

(Pub. L. 110–400, § 2, Oct. 13, 2008, 122 Stat. 4224.)

cite as: 34 USC 20916