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British Police Use Facebook to Gather Evidence

Posted by timothy on from the nothing-at-all-creepy-about-that dept.

Amy Bennett writes "Move over police scanner and most-wanted poster. The Greater Manchester Police force has created a Facebook application to collect leads for investigations. The application delivers a real-time feed of police news and appeals for information. A 'Submit Intelligence' link takes a Facebook user to the police Web site where they can anonymously submit tips. Another link leads to the videos on YouTube featuring information on the police force, ongoing investigations and other advisories." As reader groschke writes, though, "Their access to user data raises significant civil liberties problems. They may be able to see more of your data than your friends or network members can — and you also expose your friends' data when you add the application. All without needing a subpoena or warrant."

4 of 128 comments (clear)

  1. Taken way out of context by LingNoi · · Score: 2, Funny

    Since this is obviously suppose to be about helping the police catch criminals, I fail to see the problem here..

  2. Re:No . . . not really by MrNaz · · Score: 5, Funny

    Hmm... Facebook will need some new options in a few of their option boxes:

    Seargent Smith, please indicate how you know Mr. Badguy:
    ( ) We went to school together
    ( ) We hooked up
    (x) I arresed him on felony charges

    --
    I hate printers.
  3. other sites... by owlnation · · Score: 3, Funny

    The police already tried this on MySpace. All they found were glittery ponies.

  4. The Future of Policing by mrbluze · · Score: 4, Funny

    TELEPHONE TRANSCRIPT:

    Victim: Burglars have been at my house and it's been ransacked and my five year old daughter has been kidnapped!

    Police officer: Hold on, how do you spell your name again *tap tap tap tap* .. oh wait, Google's working now.. whew!...

    Victim: There's blood on the kitchen floor and..

    Police officer: Yeah yeah.. whatever.. oh, I found pictures of your daughter, she was on facebook.

    Victim: Facebook?

    Police officer: But I'm afraid we have no leads. She hasn't used her facebook account for a while.. oh well, sorry about that.

    Victim: So when am I going to see a police officer?

    Police officer: Well you can chat to me online.. do you have Yahoo?

    *CLICK*

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