Police departments comb through social media for evidence

Gang members have been captured after posting photographs and videos of themselves on Facebook or YouTube displaying tattoos, inscribed gang necklaces, or cars identified as evidence in a crime.

WASHINGTON, DC (Federal Computer Week) April 5, 2011 -- Law enforcement agencies find social media networks to be an effective tool in catching criminals, especially organized gangs, officials said at a conference April 5.

At the same time, sites such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter also are being used by police departments to interact with the community, and they present dangers for officer safety, panelists said at the LexisNexis Government 2011 Insight Conference in Washington D.C..

Gang members have been captured after posting photographs of themselves on Facebook or Twitter displaying tattoos and inscribed gang necklaces. Some suspects pose on Facebook with stolen money or guns, or show videos of themselves on YouTube with cars identified as evidence in a crime, officials said.

A captain of the Cincinnati, Ohio, Police Department, said his department worked closely with four doctoral students from a nearby academic institution to identify effective IT tools and methods.

Law enforcement agencies can use Internet Protocol addresses at nondescript locations, such as the public library or local college, so it is more difficult for suspects to realize their computer activity is being tracked by police, he said.

Link: http://fcw.com/articles/2011/04/05/law-enforcement-agencies-usiing-social-media-to-bust-gangs.aspx

Source: DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report