Slashdot Mirror
Technology Blamed For Helping UK Rioters
Hugh Pickens writes "The WSJ reports that following three nights of rioting and looting in London, Blackberry's messaging network and social networking sites are being blamed by police, politicians and media organizations for helping rioters in London spread word about the next hot spot . It's an 'encrypted, very secure, safe, fast, cheap, free, easy way for disaffected urban youth to spread messages for the next targets,' says Mike Butcher, editor of TechCrunch Europe and digital advisor to the Mayor of London. But Ian Maude, an analyst at Enders Analysis, said it's unfair to lay the blame on technology. 'Certainly, it's a lot easier for people to communicate with each other in real time via some of these services but that's a fact of life. They're not good or evil in themselves, its the purposes for which people use them.' The Metropolitan Police, known as Scotland Yard, say they are monitoring social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM), the maker of Blackberry smartphones, says it has 'engaged with the authorities to assist in any way we can.'" An anonymous reader points out that the rioters aren't the only ones using technology. London police have begun posting pictures on Flikr of people they'd like to interview following the riots over the last few days.
Actually, the UK is a real country, not the fictional country you have invented by reading Slashdot stories about CCTV cameras. I'm sure life is very comfortable in your parents' basement but, dude, get a passport and travel a little. It broadens the mind, and stops you sounding like a loon when you talk about countries about which you have absolutely no idea beyond the biased opinions of "your rights online" posts here, and the odd cliche from the 60s.
Ironically, it's intellectually lazy teenagers like you that are doing the rioting. But I'm sure you can sit back and someone on Slashdot will analyze the sociology of the UK for you, albeit in a completely flawed and unsophisticated manner that says more about their own confirmation biases than about external reality.
Mod parent up... while confrontational, it's still an insightful comment.