Crimes committed with the help of MySpace not to be charged to the site

The ruling by the Second District Court of Appeal in Los Angeles has reaffirmed federal appeals court decisions that internet services like MySpace cannot be held liable for content posted by, or wrongdoing committed by, individuals who visit their sites.

The Los Angeles –based appellate court consolidated several similar lawsuits brought by minor girls dubbed "Julie Does" and their parents or guardians, claiming that MySpace failed to implement available age-verification software or set the default security on the girls' accounts to "private." However, the court found that a section of the Communications Decency Act immunizes Web servers against the girls' claims of negligence and product liability.

The controversy erupted after two people were allegedly killed by others they met through the online ads.

In addition, social networking sites were watching the so-called MySpace Mom case in Los Angeles, in which Missouri mother Lori Drew was indicted on charges that included felony conspiracy for harassing her daughter's rival with cruel messages via a fake MySpace profile.

A federal jury cleared Drew of the most serious charges but found her guilty of three misdemeanor counts. She faces up to a three years in prison and fines when she is sentenced on Thursday. The case made worldwide headlines and brought calls for social networking sites to take measures against such activities.