UK to ban social media?

12 August 2011 05:57 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 69 Bookmark

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In response to this week's riots in London following the death of Mark Dugan, David Cameron has told parliament that the government is looking to ban people from popular social networking sites if they are suspected of plotting criminal activity. It is a popular notion that Blackberry's BBM and Twitter have played a huge role in fanning the flames of unrest in London.

Cameron said he would meet with Facebok and Twitter to discuss whether it is possible to limit the spread on online messages in connection with acts of rioting, looting or other criminal activity.

It looks like Cameron is taking a leaflet out of NYPD's book and exaggerating it a bit. Social media isn't the only thing Cameron is after, he is also requesting that broadcasters hand over unused footage to police in connection with the riots in order to bring more criminals to justice, which has been vehemently protested when attempted previously.

Of the riots in connection to social media, Cameron had this to say: “Everyone watching these horrific actions will be struck by how they were organised via social media. Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them. So we are working with the police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality. I have also asked the police if they need any other new powers. Police were facing a new circumstance where rioters were using the BlackBerry Messenger service, a closed network, to organise riots. We've got to examine that and work out how to get ahead of them.”

But how does one know when a riot is going to occur, and is it social medias responsibility to alleviate rage that users already feel? It isn't as if Mark Zuckerberg used Facebook as a call to action asking people to riot and loot the streets of London. Participants in the riot created a reactionary response to Mark Duggans killing and utilised their phone and computers to organise an uprising. The uprising itself was not born from social media.
Cameron however, has said he will do "whatever it takes" to bring order to the nation after the acts of civil disobedience.
Police are already taking action against rioters and have arrested three people in Southhampton under suspicions or inciting violence through Twitter and BBM. (CBS)

Comments - 69

YURI Friday, 12 August 2011 09:38 AM

Beautifuly said Sparks

62 53

UK TAMIL BOY Friday, 12 August 2011 10:52 AM

IMAGINE IF THERE WAS A RIOT IN SRI LANKA, HOW MANY OF THE RIOTERS WOULD SURVIVE.

36 24

UK TAMIL BOY Friday, 12 August 2011 10:44 AM

WELL SAID , SPARK.

60 32

UK TAMIL BOY Friday, 12 August 2011 10:37 AM

SRI LANKA DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT MEDIA FREEDOM.

34 15

UK TAMIL BOY Friday, 12 August 2011 10:29 AM

IN UK , WE HAVE ENOUGH FREEDOM TO SPEAK , BUT IN SRI LANKA THEY DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SPEAK. THERE ARE MANY RIGHTS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

33 14

Wara Friday, 12 August 2011 10:16 AM

how to ban only rioters ????

0 23

Wara Friday, 12 August 2011 10:15 AM

They have arrogant ministers, only towards SL.

5 26

Kivulegedara Friday, 12 August 2011 09:48 AM

It is called "Freedom of Suppression".

2 11

MK Friday, 12 August 2011 09:37 AM

Isnt it ironic.. The same countries which championed the use of social media in the Egyptian revolution are now trying to ban it because they had trouble in their own backyard! hypocryts

6 73

Janvic Friday, 12 August 2011 11:00 AM

Hypocrisy = when 3rd world ban social networking it is a crime and industrialized nations can do when ever they need it for their benefit

3 15

YURI Friday, 12 August 2011 09:31 AM

If this was in Sri Lanka, we have killed atleast 20000 and we will lable them RIOTIST, Ban the social media just one phone call away

39 33

lawtalks Friday, 12 August 2011 09:21 AM

Wahoo, not only are your comments malicious and reflect complete disregard to principles of decency, but they also reflect your incompetence, first of having not even read this article and secondly of having not read anything else regarding these incidents from any outside source.

19 3

lawtalks Friday, 12 August 2011 09:20 AM

In fact, it was only yesterday that the British PM authorised the use of water cannons for the first time in English history and that police were able to use their batons. Quite different from the constant shooting and tear gas that protestors in Sri Lanka face on a daily basis. Let's not overstep our own line.
The British Govt and civil society's response to these riots have shown the exemplary principles of British democracy and the faith in the rule of law. Quite unlike Sri Lanka's sham democracy full of half brained politicians.

20 6

Submitter Friday, 12 August 2011 09:23 AM

What happened to the so called "freedom of speech". you didn't draw the limit for the that and you face the backfire... This guys were strong criticizers of Sharia Law and now need to adopt the same..... because it is the Law of god and law for all time...

1 10

anil Friday, 12 August 2011 09:18 AM

They won't ban the social media but there would me a mechanism in place where there is civil unrest, the social media network would be barred temporaraly. They were used as medium of communication amounst rioters.

10 4

sam Friday, 12 August 2011 09:15 AM

Pemalal you are absolutely correct. One standard for them and a different standard for the developing counties.

1 16

malkanthi Friday, 12 August 2011 09:05 AM

UK government has paved way to political asylum and the democracy to a larger extent, now facing consequences! Obviously the troubles makers are not belonging to their kind.

5 22

Jodie Windenburg Friday, 12 August 2011 08:56 AM

LOL - I thought this type of insanity lye only with Sri Lankan Politicos.

11 28

Nicky Karunarathna Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:42 AM

I thought is part of English Spring! So that's mean social media only for Arab Spring and not in their backyard eh? What type of democracy is this? Shall we rewrite the Plato's Book of Republic differently for them and only for their part of the world!

0 0

Janak Soysa Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:41 PM

This is pure "bull" !!!! Where you ever there to see the carnage of London, last week ????? The British are past masters at 2-faced duplicity (that is to say they are "very clever hypocrites).
JANAK

0 0

Janak Soysa Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:36 PM

I fully agree ..... !!! JANAK

0 0

Janak Soysa Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:33 PM

Why not, mate ? What world have you emerged from ??
JANAK

0 0

Janak Soysa Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:26 PM

Re: Mark Duggan's killing

What we are not widely told is that, this was a the leader of one of the most feared gangs in the UK. At the time of his so called "death" - he had a powerful revolver covered by a "sock" on his person ! In the light of this, I say "very good riddance of very , very bad rubbish" !
Janak

0 0

Nadan Saturday, 13 August 2011 09:40 AM

Why not they seek our assistances. We have Gota and his goons.

2 1

RAJU LONDON Saturday, 13 August 2011 07:24 AM

WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN UK IS COMPLETELY ATHUGERY AND LOOTING. WHEN WE COMPARED WITH SRILANKAN RIOTS IT IS NOTHING, IN SRILANKA OFCOURSE IT WAS A WELL PLANED RIOTS AGAINST THE TAMILS INDIRECTLY SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

5 1

ravi Saturday, 13 August 2011 07:21 AM

you are just one guy, and may be you haven't learnt. But I think a majority of Sinhalese and Tamils have learnt a lot from the last 30 years

0 4

musthafa Saturday, 13 August 2011 06:45 AM

no ban against illegal weapons business in UK??? more freedom will bring more worst situation

0 1

pasha Friday, 12 August 2011 08:52 AM

it is time to ban FB in sri lanka. I heard latest crease man story is also spread-ed by this FB users.

4 7

Ami Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:39 AM

None of them should survive in my opinion. Looters, thieves, burglers, people who have gone insane are useless to a well behaved society ! What a wonderful place that was a few weeks ago !

0 4

lal Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:32 AM

They have a good stock of racist, greedy politicians. How else did they launch massive attacks in Iraq and Afghanistan killing a million or more innocent civilians and four million refugees? UK is a heartless society.

0 0

ruki Saturday, 13 August 2011 05:03 AM

Read the news item properly. It is to ban people from popular social networking sites if they are suspected of plotting criminal activity. It is not a total ban being considered but to ban those who plot criminal activities. In Egyptian case, it is justifiable, one person cant rule a country for 100 years. it was time for him to go/sent home.

0 0

z fernando Friday, 12 August 2011 07:54 PM

you people have not learnt anything eve after July 19th 2009........!

2 13

Obama Friday, 12 August 2011 11:12 AM

LTTE finally showing colors in UK
Bravo think it will b a nice cool separate home land for the tiger boys

19 51

ASHRAFF NAZIM Friday, 12 August 2011 11:06 AM

every action has a reaction

1 13

Srilankan Friday, 12 August 2011 06:32 AM

What a news :) , This was one of the headline in CNN

5 34

patriotic Friday, 12 August 2011 07:05 AM

UK the double standard democracy.

9 46

Noah Friday, 12 August 2011 06:59 AM

Now what can I say is SL is better than UK..

13 43

Wasantha Friday, 12 August 2011 07:02 AM

British media hiding facts about this uprising. they are the most bias media in the world. Specially C 4 and BBC. They try to show world that people are looting. Real reasons and voice for victimized people from their government never given.

10 40

DeSelva Friday, 12 August 2011 07:01 AM

Take a leaf from Sri Lanka and send these kids for Leadership Training by the army

7 29

Kuweni Friday, 12 August 2011 06:54 AM

Also we strongly urge that the former slave masters should address the rights of the coloured in UK.

7 67

LoneRanger Friday, 12 August 2011 06:42 AM

This is real stupid. We have to move with time. In this case we need to ban telephones, TV, radio and new papers.

3 28

Concerned Friday, 12 August 2011 06:28 AM

Didn't you all recently preach that free media in UK cannot be controlled by the Government?

5 56

perera Friday, 12 August 2011 06:27 AM

It is good that they also experience the same which they promote and support in the other countries. For example in Libya, British help rebels every where. British also preaches other countries on democracy, human rights, negotiations, seems to be forgotten for the time being. I saw agree face of British leader, wow, I cannot believe this. Now they will understand the difference between genuine struggles and terrorism.

8 50

wahoo Friday, 12 August 2011 07:07 AM

Good for them, for looking down upon other nations and ex colonies !! Yep its the 'great' BRITS !!! now who's laughing down you face ye' ?? and now who's more barbaric 'in the looting fields of London ' ? ahem' other nations update your travel advisories' ....

4 37

Shanghi Friday, 12 August 2011 06:32 AM

And call themselves Democracies!!! shameful

8 48

Hiran Shanaka Friday, 12 August 2011 06:25 AM

Has such ban been proposed or imposed in Sri Lanka, everyone will have convicted the SL authorities citing the violation of this rule and that rule. Let’s see how French, European advocators speak about their good buddy!

7 56

chandra Friday, 12 August 2011 06:19 AM

Where are the so called democracy and freedom of expression in five star democracy country. When it happens in Libya?????????????

11 65

Kuweni Friday, 12 August 2011 06:12 AM

Hilarious. just imagine if they were to face something like LTTE terrorism in their soil. Just cant imagine what measures they will bring to counter such a thing.

19 112

DEEP Friday, 12 August 2011 06:10 AM

This is outragous.
UK government can not suppress free social media. It is suppressing freedom of expression.
How can they restrict TW, FB since it also affects innocent individuals too.
UK is now behaving like Sadam Housin governement and Libyan government.

14 88

SL Friday, 12 August 2011 06:09 AM

HUH...DIFFICULT TO EAT THEIRE OWN FRUITES.

10 87

Sara Friday, 12 August 2011 06:12 AM

Ok, come on five-stars democracy.

7 74

sparks Friday, 12 August 2011 07:28 AM

For that to happen, the UK government needs to recruit racists, uncivilised arrogant political leaders as Ministers.

45 23

rif Friday, 12 August 2011 08:51 AM

it will spared to USA also soon

2 18

Premalal Friday, 12 August 2011 08:29 AM

Irony of all this is that Western world particularly USA and Britain encouraged people in Egypt, Syria, Libya and other places to use social media to create rebellion and unrest against the governments of those countries. Now they have got a taste of their own medicine and wants to restrict media, while they keep on preaching to others about democracy , HR and what not.. How hilarious!

5 41

direstraits Friday, 12 August 2011 08:02 AM

so what is sharia law?

6 12

chandra Friday, 12 August 2011 08:08 AM

Will start from FB then rioters will seek other sources of information and go on like that

4 23

werba Friday, 12 August 2011 07:36 AM

What a news for MR

3 9

Konde Bendapucheenaa Friday, 12 August 2011 07:40 AM

Next Riots due in Uncle Sam s Land,Maybe L.A or NY

22 53

Kivulegedara Friday, 12 August 2011 07:29 AM

Now they come up with the term "Social Media", to curtail freedom of Media. Art of duplicity of policies in western block.!!!

2 12

Cynic Friday, 12 August 2011 07:29 AM

Now that you are in the mood, ban LTTE front organizations too.

5 19

camern Friday, 12 August 2011 06:02 AM

have you learned a lesson from this riots? if so from now on only mind your own business.

26 117

jayantha Friday, 12 August 2011 07:27 AM

One of the biggest Democaratic country in the world is follwing
sharia laws.

13 27

LoneRanger Friday, 12 August 2011 07:24 AM

You never hear this type of stupid comments from Obama. This is where education counts.

16 5

LoneRanger Friday, 12 August 2011 07:22 AM

The British have us all the training we have today 60 years ago. That is why we are writing on this blog.

14 12

Konde Bendapucheenaa Friday, 12 August 2011 07:21 AM

Anti social behavior among Kids in Britain is uncontrollable,from age 8 or 9 they start to booze ,no respect for Parents and Teachers it is sick society

2 42

sparks Friday, 12 August 2011 07:16 AM

Well we sinhalese still have not learnt any lessons even after 1983.

94 90

TMA Friday, 12 August 2011 07:10 AM

If U read the whole thing, u'll C that it's ab't banning FB 4 rioters. Not every1

23 22

TMA Friday, 12 August 2011 07:09 AM

The lesson should be more like tougher laws, like armed policemen

9 55

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