HDTV/3D TV News
Social media is coming under fire for what some critics believe is its part in facilitating the organisation of the London riots.
Twitter in particular is thought by some to have been used to inform potential rioters where the next attacks would be carried out. However, there is no real evidence to substantiate the claims.
It is more likely, some believe, that the Blackberry messaging system has been used to coordinate youths involved in the trouble, as it is very popular amongst young people and free to send messages.
The BBC reports that many youths have used BBM as it is instantaneous and can be used to message large groups of people. Rim, the makers of Blackberry, has issued a statement pledging their support to authorities.
“We comply with the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act and co-operate fully with the Home Office and UK police forces,” the firm stated.
It further tweeted: “We feel for those impacted by the riots in London. We have engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can.”
The Daily Mail reported yesterday that both Twitter and BBM are responsible and should have already been shut down. However, the BBC claims that the Mail misquoted tweets, singling out messages that were plainly a joke and making them look like serious threats.
Following the shooting of Mark Duggan last week, a Facebook page soon popped up in support of his family. However, despite claims that this incited much of the violence, the page, now with over 18,000 members, is posting messages urging rioters to stop and disassociating itself from the trouble.
“Please we ask for this violence to stop. This isn’t about Mark, it never was, his family never wanted nor thought any of this would happen. You people are using this as an excuse,” read a post from last night.
Additionally many pages on the social networking site have gone up in support of the police in London.
What will concern investigators most is the extent to which recipients acted on any messages sent out.
Dr Chris Greer, a senior lecturer in sociology and criminology at London’s City University, told the BBC that it is unlikely that technology has persuaded anyone to join the riots, although smartphones may have aided those already involved.
“I don’t think it is having any impact on the motivation to protest in the first place,” he said.
“But once people have mobilised themselves and decided to take to the streets it is certainly much easier to communicate with each other.”
Scotland Yard said on Monday that they were looking into posts on Twitter and anyone found to be inciting violence would not go unpunished.
Comments (0)
