David Cameron, Britain's prime minister, said authorities may shut down Facebook and Twitter to return calm to streets -
In a move that calls to mind the start of the most serious unrest in nations across the Middle East over the last year, David Cameron, Britain's prime minister, told Parliament Thursday that authorities may shut down social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, in hopes that it would return calm to their streets.
The remarks came one day after British authorities discussed turning off the messaging function on BlackBerry phones, which they suggested may remove a tool protesters and rioters were using.
“Everyone watching these horrific actions will be struck by how they were organized via social media," Cameron told Parliament. "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. I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers."
Cameron added that he'd considered sending in the British military to quell the rioting, and that he's provided police with additional powers, such as the ability to order youths to uncover their faces. The order is likely tied to the widespread use of facial recognition technology, which has been employed by police to help identify rioters.
Read more -
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/11/british-pm-suggests-quelling-riots-by-disconnecting-social-media/
In a move that calls to mind the start of the most serious unrest in nations across the Middle East over the last year, David Cameron, Britain's prime minister, told Parliament Thursday that authorities may shut down social media websites like Facebook and Twitter, in hopes that it would return calm to their streets.
The remarks came one day after British authorities discussed turning off the messaging function on BlackBerry phones, which they suggested may remove a tool protesters and rioters were using.
“Everyone watching these horrific actions will be struck by how they were organized via social media," Cameron told Parliament. "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. I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers."
Cameron added that he'd considered sending in the British military to quell the rioting, and that he's provided police with additional powers, such as the ability to order youths to uncover their faces. The order is likely tied to the widespread use of facial recognition technology, which has been employed by police to help identify rioters.
Read more -
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/08/11/british-pm-suggests-quelling-riots-by-disconnecting-social-media/
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