News
MySpace.com Hires Former Microsoft Exec
MySpace.com said Tuesday it has tapped a former federal prosecutor and Microsoft
Corp. executive to be its online safety chief, the latest move by the social
networking site to shore up security.
The announcement comes one day after MySpace began running public service ads
warning its users about the dangers posed by sexual predators on the Internet.
Hemanshu Nigam currently serves as a director responsible for driving Microsoft's
consumer security outreach and child-safe computing strategies. During his stint
as a trial attorney at the Department of Justice, he specialized in child exploitation
cases.
Nigam's job at MySpace will be to oversee safety, education, privacy and law
enforcement affairs. He'll also handle online safety for other Fox Interactive
Media sites.
His appointment is effective May 1.
The job is a new position at MySpace, although many of the responsibilities
have been handled thus far by several employees, the company said.
A division of News Corp., MySpace enables computer users to meet any of more
than 60 million members. Users post searchable profiles that can include photos
of themselves and such details as where they live and what music they like.
But the Web site's features and popularity with teens have raised concerns
with authorities nationwide. There have been scattered accounts of sexual predators
targeting minors they met through the site.