Sunday, July 24, 2011

Facebook "Big Brother" may be watching

PC World reports:


Here's yet another reason to be careful of what you share on Facebook -- the Feds could be checking you out. An internal Justice Departm
ent document obtained by the Electronic Frontier Foundation reveals that U.S. law enforcement agents have been logging onto social networking sites in the name of crime fighting.
According to the 33-page presentation (PDF), which was obtained by the EFF through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, federal agents can use social networking sites to gather valuable information from and about suspects. The following information is listed as being useful evidence that can be gathered from social networking sites:
  • Reveal personal communications
  • Establish motives and personal relationships
  • Provide location information
  • Prove and disprove alibis
  • Establish crime or criminal enterprise
The document gives a brief overview of four popular social networking sites (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, and LinkedIn) and how information can be obtained from them. Facebook, for example, is "often cooperative with emergency requests," while Twitter "will not preserve data without legal process," while LinkedIn can be used to "identify experts" even though its "use for criminal communication appears limited."
Such undercover networking could be an issue for the Justice Department, however, as it was the Justice Department who prosecuted Missouri resident Lori Drew in 2008 for using a fake identity on Myspace. Drew created a fake Myspace account and used it to torment one of her daughter's schoolmates. The schoolmate eventually committed suicide after receiving a message from the fake account, which said that the world would be a better place without her.
The document asks, regarding the Drew case, "If agents violate terms of service, is that 'otherwise illegal activity'?" but does not answer the question.
While the news that U.S. law enforcement agents are wrapped up in Facebook and Myspace (just like the rest of us) is not anything new, the release of this document does pose some questions. Undercover agency work has been around forever -- but there's a limit to how "undercover" one can go in the real world, as opposed to online. As the Associated Press points out, in the real world a federal agent wouldn't be able to impersonate your best friend, spouse, or parent -- but online, they can.
Of course, the fact that the federal government is taking social networking seriously could actually work in your favor -- after all, there has been at least one instance in which charges were dropped because of a Facebook status update.
Well I knew sooner or later the Feds would be on Facebook, cause MF talk to much. I have seen beef's on there (FB) that lead to fights. Shootings talked about on there (FB). Saw fights, people talking sh%t. Talking about weed, selling food stamps everything.... watch what u post cause "Big Brother" just might be watching. Tell you the truth Facebook is just aw mess. But in the end you gotta love being able to post "What's on your mind" 

9 comments:

  1. all this technology make they job easier .....instead of riding in police cars patroling the street .... all they gotta do is grab a cup of coffee 'n donuts , kick they feet up, and patrol FaceBook ... lol : ) according 2 the news it's all kinds of pedophiles and crimminals on Facebook

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  2. I know you think people would be smarting than that. I just not.

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  3. People are so dumb sometimes.SMH

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  4. Tarai Itzmedamit JacksonJuly 24, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH IS OURS......OR IS IT? HELL NAW U DON'T HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH. IF WE DID THEN WE WOULD NOT BE CENSORED FOR THE THINGS WE HAVE TO SAY. WHETHER ON TV, AT WORK, OR JUST IN GENERAL....SHIT MY RIGHTS HAVE BEEN VIOLATED......BUT WHAT CAN U SAY ABOUT IT FORREAL???? NOT A DAMN THING CAUSE BIG BROTHER N NEM IS LISTENING, WATCHING & WAITING IN THE CUT FOR YOU TO SLIP UP AND SAY THE WRONG SHIT...BUT IT IS PART OF THE GRANDEST LAWS OF THEM ALL " THE CONSTITUTION".HOW THEY CHEAPIN IT TO BEING JUST A OLD AS PIECE OF PAPER AND NOT WHAT IT IS. THE LAW OF US ALL (SUPOSEDLY) #IMJUSTSAYIN

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  5. This is america! We have the right to do and say what we want. Fuck the Feds! What's on your mind

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  6. wow ... that sounds like invasion of privacy

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  7. @ Rick welcome 2 America : "land of the free" ... so they say ... LOL

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  8. @ RICK- IF U GOT THEM WONDERING ABOUT YOUR ACTIVITIES THEN YOU ARE WHAT'S ON THEIR MIND.....LOL

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  9. I don't know why people accept friend requests from people they dont know ..... didn't yo mama tell u "Don't talk to strangers"

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