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David Cameron considers banning
suspected rioters from social media
PM says sites such as Twitter and Facebook 'can be used for
ill' and that broadcasters should hand footage of riots to police
David Cameron has told parliament that in the wake of this
week's riots the government is looking at banning people from using social
networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook if they are thought to be plotting
criminal activity.
The prime minister said the government will review whether
it is possible to stop suspected rioters spreading online messages, in his
opening statement during a Commons debate on Thursday on the widespread civil
disorder for which MPs were recalled from their summer recess.
Answering questions after his statement, Cameron said the
home secretary, Theresa May, will hold meetings with Facebook, Twitter and
Research In Motion within weeks to discuss their responsibilities in this area.
The prime minister also said that broadcasters – including
the BBC and Sky News – have a responsibility to hand unused footage of the riots
to police.
Past attempts to force broadcasters to hand over their
footage have been met with fierce resistance. On Wednesday, the BBC's head of
newsgathering, Fran Unsworth, said voluntarily giving unused footage to the
police would damage broadcasters' editorial independence.
"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," said Cameron.
"And when people are using social media for violence we
need to stop them. 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."
"Police were facing a new circumstance where rioters were
using the BlackBerry Messenger service, a closed network, to organise riots," he
said. "We've got to examine that and work out how to get ahead of them."
The prime minister made the announcement as he vowed to do
"whatever it takes" to restore order to the nation's streets after four nights
of unprecedented civil unrest.
A move to disconnect potential rioters would mark a huge
shift in Britain's internet policy, with free speech advocates likely to accuse
the government of ushering in a new wave of online censorship.
Scotland Yard has made a string of arrests of people
suspected of inciting the violence across England by using BlackBerry Messenger,
Twitter and Facebook.
Cameron urged Twitter and Facebook to remove messages,
images and videos that could incite more unrest across the country. "All of them
should think about their responsibility and about taking down those images," he
said.
"There was an awful lot of hoaxes and false trails made on
Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger and the rest of it. We need a major piece of
work to make sure that the police have all the technological capabilities they
need to hunt down and beat the criminals."
Jim Killock, the executive director of online advocacy
organisation Open Rights Group, said Cameron risked attacking the "fundamental"
right of free speech.
"Events like the recent riots are frequently used to attack
civil liberties. Policing should be targeted at actual offenders, with the
proper protection of the courts," Killock added.
"How do people 'know' when someone is planning to riot? Who
makes that judgment? The only realistic answer is the courts must judge. If
court procedures are not used, then we will quickly see abuses by private
companies and police. Companies like RIM must insist on court processes.
"Citizens also have the right to secure communications.
Business, politics and free speech relies on security and privacy. David Cameron
must be careful not to attack these fundamental needs because of concerns about
the actions of a small minority."
Hampshire police on Wednesday arrested three people on
suspicion of using Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger to incite violent disorder
in Southampton. Those arrests are thought to be the first directly linked to the
use of the popular BlackBerry instant messaging service. A number of arrests
have been made of people suspected of inciting violence on Facebook.
David Lammy, the MP for riot-stricken Tottenham, on Tuesday
appealed for the BlackBerry maker Research In Motion to shut off its BlackBerry
Messenger service after claims that it played a key role in organising the
unrest.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/aug/11/david-cameron-rioters-social-media