UK Government Deciding Whether To Turn Off Social Networking Sites

[halfpint]

The government is exploring whether to turn off social networks or stop people texting during times of social unrest.


David Cameron said the intelligence services and the police were exploring whether it was "right and possible" to cut off those plotting violence.

Texting and Blackberry Messenger are said to have been used by some during this week's riots.

Rights groups said such a measure would be abused and hit the civil liberties of people who have done nothing wrong.

The prime minister told MPs the government was exploring the turn-off in a statement made to the House of Commons during an emergency recall of Parliament.

Mr Cameron said anyone watching the riots would be "struck by how they were organised via social media".

He said the government, using input from the police, intelligence services and industry, was looking at whether there should, or could, be limits on social media if it was being used to spread disorder.

Under social media, Mr Cameron includes Facebook, Twitter and specific technologies such as text messaging. The semi-private BBM messaging system on the Blackberry is said to have been widely used during the riots.

Home Secretary Theresa May is believed to be meeting representatives from Facebook, Twitter and RIM (maker of the Blackberry) to talk about their obligations during times of unrest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14493497

[Sly]

I believe Syria was doing this in Hama.

Great company to be in.

[JamesGw]

Wow. I can't believe they're even considering that.

[TheDA]

Fucking LOL!!!

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by JamesGw

Wow. I can't believe they're even considering that.

I think it's fucking stunning really. Worried about a police state? This is the very first step. I'm not one to worry about the police state or big brother, but this is scary.

[scottybuzz]

fucking filthy and disgusting, should lose their positions for even considering it.

[Agent 488]

yeah that is the problem - social media sites. good thing the only thing they can control is cameras and computers, as we saw when people get into the street they are helpless.

[misterhhs]

There will always be communication tools. Maybe we should considering turning off mass media.

[Cherry7]

Police shoot man

Rioting breaks out

Rioting copied

Toffs have to cut short Hols

Now we will Have Rubber Bullets, Water Cannon, control of internet...all ready for any future protests...

[RebelR]

they should also suspend phone communication, ban the sale of pens, paper, and magic markers, and all other writing tools, and forbid people to speak during times of social unrest while they are at it.

[Agent 488]

shutting of the internet did nothing to stop the protests in egypt. it just made them worse as people got away from the screen and went into the streets to see what's up.

[96ukssob]

basic rule of psychology... punishment does not work and only makes angry people more angry.

rather, try negative reinforcement

[Shaft_1971]

Would be very stunned if they followed through with that....and it would a bad move on the Gov part.

[Ethersync]

Good luck with that. People will move from one service to another to another. They will have to turn off the Internet. I would love to see them try...

[The Duck]

Originally Posted by JamesGw

Wow. I can't believe they're even considering that.

Fucked up.

[Tom_PM]

Why are some punks trying to trash their own country anyway? Idiots. There's a point where you have just gone too far and should stay in bed.

[rogueteens]

They accidentally "flicked the switch" on mobiles during the 7/7 bombings.

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by PR_Tom

Why are some punks trying to trash their own country anyway? Idiots.

Because they are the scum of the earth...

[DWB]

It would be nice to have a "internet kill switch" for such events. Oh wait... I think the USA already has one.

[helterskelter808]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I think it's fucking stunning really. Worried about a police state? This is the very first step. I'm not one to worry about the police state or big brother, but this is scary.

The first (goose) step happened a long long time ago in the UK.

The only astounding thing about this is that the UK happens to be simultaneously killing Libyans who are trying to resist their own (heavily armed) rioters and think it's great when (independent of the West) Arab governments are overthrown via Facebook and Twitter.

Speaking of hypocrisy, for anyone who isn't aware of the kind of shitstain the British Prime Minister is, as well as once being an illegal drug user he was (along with the London Mayor Boris Johnson) a member of the "Bullingdon Club" at university.

The Bullingdon Club is famed for its hard drinking and bad behaviour, and Mr Cameron has always refused to talk about it.

The club's members have become notorious over the years for vandalising restaurants and trashing students' rooms.

Andrew Gimson, author of The Rise of Boris Johnson, said: 'I don't think an evening would have ended without a restaurant being trashed.'

Source: BBC

[Serge Litehead]

wow, lol whole civilized west is turning into USSR, sad really

[Barry-xlovecam]

Originally Posted by RebelR

they should also suspend phone communication, ban the sale of pens, paper, and magic markers, and all other writing tools, and forbid people to speak during times of social unrest while they are at it.

A return to the middle ages too ... Burn the trouble makers as witches ...

[DamianJ]

Look, the government controlling and censoring the internet is a great idea. It stops child porn, terrorists and now riots!

BRILLIANT!

[seeandsee]

shut down interwebs, lol

[Si]

This would have never happened if Blair was still around.

[RuthB]

for some reason this thread very strongly makes me think of V for Vendetta...

*hotlinken!*

[ottopottomouse]

[Rochard]

Originally Posted by PR_Tom

Why are some punks trying to trash their own country anyway? Idiots. There's a point where you have just gone too far and should stay in bed.

I know right?

It's just going to come out of their pocket in the future anyhow. Who's gonna pay for the over time with the police? The insurance companies will charge more for insurance in the area. Money is already tight; How many small businesses are going to go out of business because they can't afford four or five days of being closed? How many employees aren't going to be able to pay their rent because they can't get to work and can't make money?

And so on?

Idiots. You get what you deserve.

[Agent 488]

damn kids get off my lawn.

[dyna mo]

but you still have your AAA credit ranking!

[IllTestYourGirls]

So what you are saying is it is time for the UN to start a no-fly zone and start bombing the UK airports?

[baddog]

Originally Posted by Rochard

I think it's fucking stunning really. Worried about a police state? This is the very first step. I'm not one to worry about the police state or big brother, but this is scary.

Nah, that would be the second step. The first would be the installation of CCTV everywhere.

[Cherry7]

Originally Posted by Scott McD

Because they are the scum of the earth...

Is that really how far your brain gets you?

You think why is thiis happening? and the best you can come up with is that by some accident of genetic "scum" is born in a certain area and certain time.

Or is it a way of not thinking? maybe because thinking hurts...

And when others give
rational reasons why, poverty, social inequality, consumerism

Does that make you angry ?

[undersoul]

unfortunately you will see more and more of this

[IllTestYourGirls]

Originally Posted by Cherry7

And when others give
rational reasons why, poverty, social inequality, consumerism

Does that make you angry ?

Are you saying those are rational reasons to burn down peoples homes, riot and steal things from department stores?

[raymor]

Is that sort of nanny state thinking part of what led to the current problem?
We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.? Albert Einstein

[Scott McD]

Originally Posted by IllTestYourGirls

Are you saying those are rational reasons to burn down peoples homes, riot and steal things from department stores?

He's a fucking idiot not even worth a reply. So he isn't getting one.

I do however hope he gets burned out of his home since he thinks it's "ok"...

[AtlantisCash]

Why not shut the thing called government instead?

Governments should be stopped somewhere, i wish all those son of bitch politissions and burocrats got a big fuck of like this, fuckin ass holes.

we need one like this in Turkiye too, but unfortunately most of our people are sheeps, so i don't expect it to be happen here soon.

[baddog]

Originally Posted by AtlantisCash

Why not shut the thing called government instead?

Governments should be stopped somewhere, i wish all those son of bitch politissions and burocrats got a big fuck of like this, fuckin ass holes.

we need one like this in Turkiye too, but unfortunately most of our people are sheeps, so i don't expect it to be happen here soon.

Yeah, anarchy rules. What kind of ethnic cleansing would Turkey have this time if there was no government?

[cherrylula]

They should have done that for their piece of shit royal wedding.

[AtlantisCash]

Originally Posted by baddog

Yeah, anarchy rules. What kind of ethnic cleansing would Turkey have this time if there was no government?

i m sure you will understand me if you think a bit what i m talkin about.

btw. most of the problems we live in Turkiye are because of our state that you may not know.

i don't wish to be government abolished in Turkiye at all, our society's nor education neither the welfare level is ok for that, what i was talkin about is kinda globally balance that mechanism some where.

if you lived here for ever and saw how how politissions lied easyly and make it sound like real, you would go crazy.

[will76]

Originally Posted by halfpint

the government is exploring whether to turn off social networks or stop people texting during times of social unrest.


David cameron said the intelligence services and the police were exploring whether it was "right and possible" to cut off those plotting violence.

Texting and blackberry messenger are said to have been used by some during this week's riots.

Rights groups said such a measure would be abused and hit the civil liberties of people who have done nothing wrong.

The prime minister told mps the government was exploring the turn-off in a statement made to the house of commons during an emergency recall of parliament.

Mr cameron said anyone watching the riots would be "struck by how they were organised via social media".

He said the government, using input from the police, intelligence services and industry, was looking at whether there should, or could, be limits on social media if it was being used to spread disorder.

Under social media, mr cameron includes facebook, twitter and specific technologies such as text messaging. The semi-private bbm messaging system on the blackberry is said to have been widely used during the riots.

Home secretary theresa may is believed to be meeting representatives from facebook, twitter and rim (maker of the blackberry) to talk about their obligations during times of unrest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-14493497

only in the uk

[AtlantisCash]

Originally Posted by baddog

Yeah, anarchy rules. What kind of ethnic cleansing would Turkey have this time if there was no government?

and Proly you should know that Anarchy means lack of authority while some of these events in Uk could be called Chaos, 2 word might be described similar though, Anarchy doesn't have to be chaotic always

[baddog]

Originally Posted by AtlantisCash

and Proly you should know that Anarchy means lack of authority while some of these events in Uk could be called Chaos, 2 word might be described similar though, Anarchy doesn't have to be chaotic always

You have any examples of anarchy that were not chaotic?

[AtlantisCash]

Originally Posted by baddog

You have any examples of anarchy that were not chaotic?

then you should have for the chaotic one ;)

[AtlantisCash]

ah don't tell me Somalia, South Sudan or Afghanistan btw. we all know why those places are total mess and Taliban and Al shebab should be thankful to whom right?

[Cherry7]

Originally Posted by holograph

wow, lol whole civilized west is turning into USSR, sad really

If the UK was like the USSR all the children and teenagers would be in holiday camps on the Black Sea, not burning down the cities.

Also they would have free education and grants to study.

Full employment and apprenticeships....


No, the model our gov is following is the USA...

[magicmike]

Wow.

I guess the UK is really becoming more like the middle east after all.

[Cherry7]

Originally Posted by IllTestYourGirls

Are you saying those are rational reasons to burn down peoples homes, riot and steal things from department stores?

Explanations are not excuses....

To make mindless comments does not help but in fact causes more problems as we see the gov using it to increase repression

[Bladewire]

Originally Posted by halfpint

David Cameron said the intelligence services and the police were exploring whether it was "right and possible" to cut off those plotting violence.

Government leaders publicly stating they don't know if cutting off civilian communications is "right" in a time of civil unrest?

The planet has gone loony the last couple years, like GFY loony!