Tech Watch: Services allow users to communicate via webcam with strangers; What could go wrong?

Screenshot of Chatroulette. Click to enlarge.

Give a person a webcam, some anonymity, and the ability to connect to strangers over the Internet, and wayward things are certain to happen. In fact, they happen quite often.

Many online services now do just that, including Stickcam and Chatroulette. Both of these services allow users to connect via webcam with total strangers from around the world at random. Users can talk through their microphone or use the text chat feature. Stickcam has other features including live broadcast, group chat (seven webcam spots), and chat rooms (up to 12 live webcams and others by text). Stickcam requires an account to broadcast and allows privacy settings, but Chatroulette does not require an account.

Both services allow users to report inappropriate behavior. Chatroulette claims that they report IP addresses and screenshots of offenders to law enforcement. As far as I am aware, it is unknown whether or not either service retains videos or chat logs by default.

In a recent Massachusetts case, the defendant is charged with production of child pornography (among other crimes) after meeting a 15-year-old girl on Stickcam. United States v. Ritter, 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 74401 (D. Mass. 2012). The defendant requested discovery of the victim's communications with others on the site to prove that she "had a history of 'showing' to others" and "acted freely and voluntarily without [his] coercion." The magistrate concluded that this information is irrelevant to the crime itself, but is probative as to the victim's credibility and is "thus producible 21 days before trial."

UPDATE: Another related site is Omegle, which helps users with common interests connect for text or video chat. It also allows you to anonymously ask a question which you then get to see two people discuss. (Thanks to reader Priscilla for the tip!)