guardian.co.uk,
Josh Halliday, Wednesday 24 August 2011
 |
| UK riots: Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger were accused of having helped spread unrest. Photograph: Michael Bowles/Rex Features |
Facebook
and Twitter are preparing to stand firm against government ministers' calls to
ban people from social networks or shut their websites down in times of civil
unrest.
The major
social networks are expected to offer no concessions when they meet the home
secretary, Theresa May, at a Home Office summit on Thursday lunchtime.
Ministers
are expected to row back on David Cameron's call for suspected rioters to be
banned from social networks, such as Twitter and Facebook, following the riots
and looting across England a fortnight ago.
The home
secretary will explore what measures the major social networks could take to
help contain disorder – including how law enforcement can more effectively use
the sites – rather than discuss powers to shut them down. The acting
Metropolitan police commissioner, Tim Godwin, and the Tory MP Louise Mensch
have separately explored the idea of shutting down websites during emergencies.
The
technology companies will strongly warn the government against introducing
emergency measures that could usher in a new form of online censorship. 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.
The summit
is not expected to signal a dramatic shift in government policy, with only one
hour slated for a discussion between more than a dozen social media executives,
police officers and ministers.
Executives
from Facebook, Twitter and RIM will be joined by Lynn Owens, the assistant
commissioner of central operations at the Met police, members of the
association of chief police officers, and civil servants from both the foreign
office and the department for culture, media and sport. The home secretary will
lead the meeting, alongside James Brokenshire, the minister for security and a
member of the National Security Council.
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.
Godwin 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.
A
spokeswoman for Facebook said: "We look 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.
"In
recent days we have ensured any credible threats of violence are removed from
Facebook and we have been pleased to see the very positive uses millions of
people have been making of our service to let friends and family know they are
safe and to strengthen their communities."
Twitter and
RIM declined to comment.
Four men
from Lancashire appeared in court on Wednesday accused of using Facebook to
encourage the looting. None of the four entered pleas to the charges, and all
four were granted bail in the hearing at Preston crown court.
- To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".
- To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook
No comments:
Post a Comment