Facebook denies 'paedophiles' are behind cartoon profile campaign

Washington, Dec 7 (ANI): Social networking site Facebook has denied rumours that paedophiles are behind the cartoon profile campaign.

The campaign, which has been actively gaining momentum in the past month, urges users to swap a cartoon character for their usual profile picture and boasts more than 150,000 "likes" among its Facebook pages.

According to the Daily Mail, the campaign was originally thought to be the work of a children's advocacy group, but rumours sweeping across the web suggest it's actually a front for paedophiles.

The message warned: "FRAUDALERT: The group asking everyone to change their profile pictures to their favourite cartoon character is actually a group of paedophiles."

Facebook spokesman Simon Axten was quick to squash the claims.

"This rumour is false. Thousands of people have taken up the campaign, none of whom can be identified as either young or old based on the profile picture chosen," Fox News quoted him as saying.

"Groups like the NSPCC in the UK, while not responsible for the campaign, have welcomed the attention it's drawn to the cause of protecting children," Axten pointed out.

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) was quick to refute its involvement, leaving the campaign's origins a mystery.

"Although the NSPCC did not originate the childhood cartoon Facebook campaign, we welcome the attention it has brought to the work we do," the group tweeted. (ANI)