Policing 2011: Facebook Style
August 8, 2011 by admin
Filed under Choosing Lingerie
Columbia (WACH)—We have all heard the advice about using care when posting pictures on social networking sites. Current and potential employers, school administrators, and colleges are all looking through pages to ensure that employees and students are behaving properly when off the clock and out of class.
Another group spending time on social networking sites is law enforcement. Police officers surfing the web are not new, over the last decade, teams of specially trained Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) officers have been scouring the net for predators hoping to make victims of children. Across the country, police investigators are also turning to social networking sites to help solve crimes and identify suspects.
With an estimated ¾ of all people who use the Internet on at least one social networking site, it may make sense that law enforcement is also. Police investigators say that many crimes can be solved simply by looking at pictures that users post. From cyber bullying and underage drinking to vandalism and theft, suspects not only take pictures with pride, but then share them for the world, including the police to see. In at least one case, even a murder suspect was identified and captured after he discussed the details with his girlfriend.
In searching for relevant stories, there seems to be a common thread that if someone posts a picture or information in the public, they should be held accountable for the actions depicted.
Many agencies are also using social networking to communicate with the public, sending out messages, and collecting tips and information from the public.
What do you think about law enforcement utilizing social networking to help solve crimes? Is it a violation of the 4th Amendment covering search and seizure, or do you think that if people post information publicly, its fair game?
Leave a comment here or on our Facebook page and get into the debate.
