New York-based internet security consultancy Sentinel used a database containing the details of more than 700,000 registered sex offenders to target and remove relevant individuals.
The move is part of an initiative to make the site safer for consumers. Other features will include more sophisticated ways of verifying age and limiting the ability of adults to view the details of under-18s.
However, there are fears that offenders are still free to access rival social networking site Facebook, which is today celebrating its 5th birthday. According to Sentinel's CEO John Cardillo 8,487 registered offenders were found on the site using its basic search function.
Speaking to The Sun, Cardillo said there could be as many 100,000 offenders or paedophiles on Facebook, adding that although the site had its own security to deal with this sort of problem it was inadequate for the task involved.
In response, Facebook said that it has disabled around 4,500 accounts but claimed the rest of the names Cardillo found were coincidental and actually belonged to innocent people.
Facebook
MySpace bans 90,000 users after sex offender search
LONDON - MySpace has banned 90,000 registered sex offenders and paedophiles following an investigation by online security experts.