Internet clamp down warning
As British courts began Friday to process the first cases of rioters accused of inciting violence through the use of social networking sites, the government was warned of “playing a dangerous game” by planning to clamp down on the internet.
A 27-year-old man appeared in court in Hastings, in the southern county of East Sussex Friday, accused of encouraging public disorder and “intentionally encouraging offences … namely burglary and criminal damage” in messages posted on Facebook.
In other parts of Britain, three men in their 20s and an 11-year-old girl had received visits by the police and been given “words of advice” concerning entries onto social networking sites, the Press Association reported.
Officers had spoken to the 11-year-old regarding a page on Facebook which “called people on to the streets” of Plymouth, in south-west Britain, earlier this week.
In a package of measures announced in parliament Thursday, Prime Minister David Cameron said social media services such as Twitter and mobile messaging systems could face restrictions following a review by the police and intelligence services.
“When people are using social media for violence, we need to stop them,” said Cameron, following claims that many of this week’s rioters used the internet to coordinate attacks.
Under British law, incitement to violence is liable to maximum prison terms of seven years.
Cameron said he would summon the bosses of social networking groups to discuss how they could block users from spreading information about disturbances or alert police to troublemakers.
“We are working with the police, the intelligence services and industry to look at where it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality,” said Cameron.
However, Rik Ferguson, from software security group Trend Micro, said Friday it would be impossible to block social networking sites.
“We’ve seen how Egypt, Libya and Iran – much more brutal dictatorships than Britain’s democracy – have tried to block internet access but people will always find a way,” he said.
A clampdown on the use of social networking sites would mark the most “fundamental shift” in the government’s approach towards the internet in 15 years, media lawyer Steve Kuncewicz, of Gateley law firm, told the Press Association.
“There will be discussions between politicians and networks about what their responsibilities are, but it could get very dangerous, you are looking at the erosion of the right to freedom of expression,” he said.
Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant and social media expert at counter-virus firm Sophos, said there was risk of an over-reaction against websites and the likes of BlackBerry Messenger over their role in the riots.
“The answer is not to shut down the likes of Facebook and Twitter. Even if Facebook or Twitter were shut down – which won’t happen – the rioters would turn to alternative systems which might be harder to police.
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