Government expected to ask what social networks could do help contain disorder, including blocking users from websites
Cabinet ministers will tomorrow hold a summit meeting with Facebook, Twitter and the maker of BlackBerry smartphones over the role of social networks played in the unprecedented riots and looting across England a fortnight ago.
The home secretary, Theresa May, is expected to explore what measures the major social networks could take to help contain disorder, including whether it is practical to switch off or block users from their websites during times of civil unrest.
However, the technology companies will strongly warn the government against introducing emergency measures that could usher in a new form of online censorship.
The Home Office meeting follows David Cameron's call for suspected rioters to be banned from social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook. The acting Metropolitan police commissioner, Tim Godwin, and the Tory MP Louise Mensch have separately explored the idea of shutting down websites during emergencies.
Attacks on London landmarks, including the Olympics site and Westfield shopping centres, were thwarted earlier this month after police managed to intercept private BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) posts – suggesting that leaving networks running can provide a valuable source of intelligence and information.
May will urge the social networks, all of which are based in either the US or Canada, to take more responsibility for the messages posted on their websites.
In response, Twitter and Facebook are expected to outline the steps that both social networks already take to remove messages that potentially incite violence. Facebook, which has 30 million users in the UK, said it had actively removed "several credible threats of violence" to stem the riots across England this month.
Research in Motion, the Canada-based BlackBerry maker, will explain to the government which parts of its popular BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) service are private or encrypted. Unlike Facebook and Twitter, BBM is a pin-protected instant messaging system, and was claimed to be the most popular network among rioters.
Each of the social networks are preparing to explain how current powers are proportionate for tackling provocative material. Current measures allow internet companies to identify users who may be worth further investigation without examining the content of their messages.
RIM and other companies can be forced to disclose users' private messages if served with a warrant by police.
Tim Godwin, the acting Metropolitan police commissioner, told MPs on the home affairs committee last week that police had explored the unprecedented step of switching off social networks, but discovered that they did not have the legal powers to do so.
Under the current system, most websites take down material if served with "notice and takedown procedures" by authorities. Facebook also operates a self-policing method whereby its own users can flag inappropriate material.
Two leading police forces told the Guardian earlier this month that it would be a mistake to introduce overzealous powers over the websites. Greater Manchester police and the Devon and Cornwall force both said social networks had an "overwhelmingly positive" role in dispelling rumours and reassuring residents during the riots.
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Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/24/uk-riots-facebook-twitter-blackberry
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