Facebook Flags Chats of Alleged Sex Predator

Employees at Facebook helped nab an accused sexual predator after his computer chats raised red flags. The suspect, a 25-year-old male, was engaging in explicit chats with a 13-year-old girl, which caught the attention of Facebook staffers who alerted Winnipeg police. Authorities arrested the man, though not until after he had met the girl in person and an alleged sex crime occurred, reports the Toronto Sun. He faces charges of sexual assault and Internet luring.

"It's a unique case from a legal perspective," says a lawyer who specializes in social media. "In many cases, people believe they have an absolute right to privacy. Any illusions people had as a right to privacy on Facebook should be shattered." The Sun notes that Facebook and other social network sites monitor chats for key words. (More Facebook stories.)