Cheshire Policea
Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, left, and Jordan Blackshaw both pleaded guilty to using Facebook in attempts to fuel riots in Cheshire. England. August 2011a
By Suzanne Choney
The British government has set Aug. 25 as the date it will meet with representatives from social networks Facebook and Twitter, as well as Research In Motion, which makes the BlackBerry, to talk about their use and role in the worst riots in Britain for decades, with more than 1,200 people arrested.a
Prime Minister David Cameron has blamed the riots on street gang members and opportunistic looters — and to some degree on the social networks that enabled flash mobs and looting to be coordinated. Cameron has vowed to explore curbs on the use of social media tools if they were used to plot "violence, disorder and criminality."a
This week, two men, ages 20 and 22, were sentenced to four years in prison for trying to organize riots by using Facebook, even though in one case, no one showed up for the event except for police officers who arrested the suspect. In the second case, the convicted man posted a link to a page called "The Warrington Riots" on Facebook, but said he was not looking to incite any additional activity, according to The Guardian.a
Facebook representatives will attend the meeting with officials from the Home Office, which includes Britain's office for security and counter-terrorism, and crime and policing group.a
In a statement shared in a BBC report, Facebook said it looks "forward to meeting with the home secretary to explain the measures we have been taking to ensure that Facebook is a safe and positive platform for people in the UK at this challenging time.”a
Canadian-based RIM has "suggested it will also be there," the BBC said, and RIM said in a statement that "we welcome the opportunity for consultation together with other companies in the technology and telecommunications industry."a
RIM's BlackBerry Messenger instant messaging program is thought to have been used by many rioters and looters to coordinate their plans.a
So far, Twitter, the U.S.-based short messaging blog, has yet to make a public peep about whether it will attend the session.a
— Via The Next Weba
Related stories:a
Facebook users jailed for 4 years over 'riot that never was' Teen charged for inciting riots using BlackBerry UK anti-tech crackdown? Not bloody likely Are London looters unloading on Craigslist? MP calls for BlackBerry Messenger suspension over UK riots
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