British Police Use Facebook to Gather Evidence

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."

Comments

Twofo Live!

[Anonymous Coward]

Twofo Live!

FIRST POST!

[Anonymous Coward]

FIRST POST!!!!!!!!!!

Re:FIRST POST!

[Anonymous Coward]

you failed by four minutes!

they do

[ClioCJS]

A few mistakes DO cancel out the good they do. One officer in one second can take away someone's life just because he felt threatened, even if the threat is unjustifiable. Police die at a lower rate than garbage men and farmers, yet are cowardly enough to unjustifiably shoot people on a near-daily basis. Someone being murdered by a government official sworn to uphold the law is 100X worse than someone being murdered by a criminal. And one murder that, for example, takes away 70 years of potential life from the victim -- does indeed to more evil than 100 cops working all day.

Please tell me all the stories chronicled here are just a misrepresentation of reality:
http://del.icio.us/ClintJCL/AbuseOfAuthority