What's happening
This bill prohibits registered sex offenders in New York from having online gamer accounts accessible to minors, with violations punishable by misdemeanor or felony charges.
Why it matters
Expands restrictions on sex offenders to cover a wide range of online gaming activities. The bill defines “online gamer account” very broadly, including console accounts, PC gaming accounts, user tags, and any profile that enables communication, participation, or messaging in multiplayer online games—making it difficult for registered offenders to legally access most modern gaming platforms.
Targets environments where minors are present. The law specifically bans accounts that allow interaction in spaces where minors can also participate, aiming to reduce potential online contact or grooming of minors through gaming networks—reflecting concerns about the social aspect of today’s gaming communities.
Imposes strict reporting and compliance requirements. Registered offenders must delete any existing online gamer accounts and notify authorities within seven days of the law taking effect, highlighting a rapid compliance timeline and ongoing monitoring responsibilities.
Creates escalating criminal penalties. Failing to comply with account deletion or reporting is a misdemeanor, while repeated violations (e.g., making new accounts) can lead to felony charges, signaling a move toward more severe consequences for digital infractions related to child safety.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Sex Offenders from Gaming
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in correction
- Referred to correction
- Referred to correction
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8744
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
October 25, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BARNWELL -- read once and referred to the Committee on Correction
AN ACT to amend the correction law, in relation to prohibiting a person required to register under the sex offender registration act from possessing an online gamer account
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 168-w of the correction law, as relettered by chapter 604 of the laws of 2005, is relettered section 168-x and a new section 168-w is added to read as follows:
§ 168-w. Prohibition of online gamer accounts. 1. For purposes of this section an "online gamer account" means a user name or other name, or identifying data that allows such individual or user to engage, spectate, message, communicate, participate, or play on the internet, console, gaming system, and/or network, in which other individuals can engage in the same game, games, activities, or multiplayer features. An "online gamer account" includes, but is not limited to, a console gaming account, computer gaming account, user tag, user account, user name, network account, X-box gamer tag, PlayStation Network name, Nintendo Network ID, online multiplayer user name, online multiplayer playing account, unique user name, or any other profile and/or named account that allows such individual or user to engage, spectate, message, communicate, participate, or play on the internet, console, gaming system, and/or network, in which other individuals can engage in the same game, games, activities, or multiplayer features.
2. a. No person required to maintain registration under this article shall be permitted to have an online gamer account that allows such person to engage in the watching, participation, communication, messaging, talking, and/or playing of any type of game over the internet, console, platform, system, online multiplayer feature, or any other type of device, in which minors also have access to an online gamer account.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13608-02-7
A. 8744 2
b. Any person required to maintain registration under this article who currently has such online gamer account shall delete, remove and/or cancel such online gamer account within seven days after the effective date of this section. Such person shall report such account, and the account's deletion, to the division within seven days after the effective date of this section.
3. a. Any person required to maintain registration under this article who fails to report such online gamer account to the division seven days after the effective date of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
b. Any person required to maintain registration under this article who currently has such online gamer account at the time of the effective date of this section, and who fails to delete, remove and/or cancel such online gamer account within seven days after the effective date of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
c. Any person required to maintain registration under this article who creates an online gamer account after the effective date of this section shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Upon the second violation, and each subsequent violation, of this subdivision such person shall be guilty of a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.