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Uncategorized Thursday, August 11th 2011 at 1:54 pm

In Wake of Riots, UK Prime Minister Proposes Social Media Restrictions

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The recent riots around London shocked the world, and the media was quick to pick up reports that rioters were using social media platforms such as Twitter to stay one step ahead of police. According to the Guardian, UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced that in response his government will seek a means to ban individuals using such services for nefarious means.

Speaking to the House of Commons, Thinq_ quotes Cameron as saying:

Everyone watching these horrific actions will be struck by how they were, organised via social media. [...] Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. So we are working with the police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality.

Cameron added that the Home Secretary Theresa May will be meetings with RIM, Facebook, and Twitter representatives to discuss the matter. Though this is the first announcement by Cameron, it comes after several arrests were already made for inciting violence via social media. The Guardian says that three people have been arrested in connection with their use of the BlackBerry Messenger service, and other arrests have stemmed from inciting violence through Facebook.

(UK Guardian, Thinq_ via Slashdot, image via George Rex)

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  • Anonymous

    Cameron’s a twit, and everyone knows it. No surprise here.

  • http://twitter.com/wonkydonky wonky donky.

    F***ing Brit numpties! 

    Can’t mount an effective riot squad to save their lives. Can’t arm their cops. Can’t figure out that when you ban handguns, the badguys just buy a ton of knives.

    Now their solution is to abridge digital coms. -IDIOTS!!!

    First it’s illegal for a tourist to take any photo of any thing in London without the gov encouraging the bobbies make up new legislation on the spot; now this. 

    Ask yourself, if something like this happened in NYC, how fast do you think the entire NYPD, the National Guard, and every reservist force in the region be on top of the rioters? 
    It would be over before it even started.

    .
    It’s called SWAT, you freaking morons!!!

  • Frederic Desjardins

    The difference between America and Great Britain is that here in America, many of us are armed because of the second amendment. In Great Britain, they don’t like guns, as you mentioned, the cops don’t even carry guns. But here is a really good example of if you are a shop owner or a store owner and you don’t have a gun, you’re in big trouble. Now, is [sic] any of that been raised by the BBC and the other liberal British press that maybe the cops should be tougher and maybe should be armed?

  • Dan Brian

    Frightening. Where do you draw the line between stopping a riot and quelling the people’s will?

  • slander libel

    Apparently, they’re trying to erase it and redraw it six feet farther.