Slashdot Mirror


Journalist Tricked Captors Into Twitter Access

itwbennett writes "Kosuke Tsuneoka, a Japanese freelance journalist held captive in Afghanistan since April 1, was released over the weekend. His freedom came a day after he sent two Twitter messages from a captor's phone. 'i am still allive [sic], but in jail,' read a message sent at 1:15 p.m. GMT on Friday. It was followed a few minutes later with a second message, also in English, that read, 'here is archi in kunduz. in the jail of commander lativ.' The message referred to the Dasht-e-Archi district of Kunduz where he was being held. On Tuesday, speaking in Tokyo, Tsuneoka revealed how he managed to convince his captors to give him access to the Internet. 'He asked me if I knew how to use it, so I had a look and explained it to him,' said Tsuneoka. 'I called the customer care number and activated the phone,' he said."

12 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Jedi-ish by swanzilla · · Score: 2, Funny
    FTA:

    "I don't think they realize they were tricked," he said.

    The Force can have a strong influence on the weak-minded.

    1. Re:Jedi-ish by lewko · · Score: 3, Funny

      Spaceballs-ish.

      Evil will always triumph over good. Because good is dumb.

      --
      Do you or your partner snore? - Visit www.snoring.com.au
  2. step 2 missing by punkmanandy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Step 1: Tweet
    Step 2: ???
    Step 3: FREEDOM!

  3. Please stop by Sarten-X · · Score: 3, Funny

    Mr. Tsuneoka, the last thing we need is more confusion about the Internet, especially amongst new users. Please stop spreading misinformation, and apologize to those you've misled! In the future, give only meaningful, accurate information to help users understand what's going on. Explain that Twitter is a social network that allows users to reach many the general public, rather than just journalists. Help educate the world!

    --
    You do not have a moral or legal right to do absolutely anything you want.
    1. Re:Please stop by mattack2 · · Score: 2, Funny

      You first, when you get kidnapped.

  4. Re:Please help by MichaelSmith · · Score: 2, Funny

    1031'6"E, 4155'2"N.

    You've got me going around in circles...

  5. Re:Please help by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    They were right. Good Luck!

  6. Another jailbreak on another smartphone... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    And to think so many people devalue the benefits of jailbreaking...

  7. Breaking News by rshxd · · Score: 4, Funny

    Twitter was used for something useful! Stop the presses!!!!

    1. Re:Breaking News by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 2, Funny

      Don't worry, it won't happen again.

  8. Re:Twitter, instead of by dintech · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh come one, SOMEONE is bound to have hotmail.

  9. Re:Journalists Trick Slashdot Into Believing Story by interkin3tic · · Score: 2, Funny

    "They asked what that was. And I told them that if you write something on it, then you can reach many Japanese journalists. So they said, 'try it'."

    So then, where's the trick, again?

    The part where he used twitter to do something useful. That was quite a trick.