Social media and social control: Evolving situations, uses, tactics

[Ed Jewett]

UK planning draconian powers to shut phone messaging and social networks in times of civil disorder --Cameron's law: PM planning crackdown on rioters --Police to have power to shut down social networks, remove hoodies and facial coverings, while looters could lose homes and benefits

12 Aug 2011

Ministers and the security services are planning draconian powers to shut down or disrupt mobile phone messaging services and social networks in times of civil disorder. Downing Street sources said they were considering the "moral and technical" questions of how to grant new powers blocking all mobile communications to prevent rioters organising through websites such as Twitter and the BlackBerry Messenger service. Mr Cameron, promising yesterday to do "whatever it takes" to restore order, outlined a series of new security measures, which included: Consider further powers of curfew. Investigate using the Army to free up police for "frontline" duties. Give individual police officers the power to force people to remove scarves, hoods or masks covering their faces or be arrested... The Government will also consult former New York Police commissioner Bill Bratton on further measures to tackle gang [?!?] culture.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/cri...36308.html

http://www.legitgov.org/UK-planning-drac...l-disorder

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NYPD forms new social media unit to mine Facebook and Twitter for mayhem [editorial comment excised]

10 Aug 2011

The NYPD has formed a new unit to track troublemakers who announce plans or brag about their crimes on Twitter, MySpace and Facebook. Newly named Assistant Commissioner Kevin O'Connor, one of the department's online and gang gurus, has been put in charge of the new juvenile justice unit. He and his staff will mine social media, looking for info about troublesome house parties, gang showdowns and other potential mayhem, sources said. London rioters have been using Twitter and BlackBerry messages to choose targets for looting or burning - and to alert one another about police positions. [editorial comment excised]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011...ayhem.html

via

http://www.legitgov.org/NYPD-forms-new-s...ter-mayhem

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Pre-Crime: BART Admits Halting Cell Service to Stop Protesters

August 13th, 2011
Via: San Francisco Chronicle: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...1KMS8U.DTL

BART officials acknowledged this afternoon that they shut down cell phone and wireless data service in its downtown San Francisco stations to disrupt a planned protest. Their announcement sparked denunciations from civil libertarians and the apparent threat of a cyber-attack on the BART website.

A statement posted on the transit agency's website said the communications blackout was ordered in the interest of public safety:

"Organizers planning to disrupt BART service on August 11, 2011 stated they would use mobile devices to coordinate their disruptive activities and communicate about the location and number of BART Police," the statement reads.

"A civil disturbance during commute times at busy downtown San Francisco stations could lead to platform overcrowding and unsafe conditions for BART customers, employees and demonstrators. BART temporarily interrupted service at select BART stations as one of many tactics to ensure the safety of everyone on the platform."

BART did not immediately offer details of how the shutdown took place, how long it lasted or what stations were affected.


Posted in Police State, Surveillance, Technology

http://cryptogon.com/?p=24180