LONDON RIOTS: POLICE COULD GET POWERS OVER SOCIAL MEDIA

Users of social media, such as Twitter, Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), could see their access to services blocked if they are “plotting violence, disorder and criminality”, David Cameron told MPs.

Youths involved in riots have used social media to organise their campaign of violence Photo: GETTY IMAGES

By Matt Warman, Consumer Technology Editor 11 Aug 2011

The Prime Minister said that “everyone watching these horrific actions will be stuck 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.”

He said that he has asked the police if they need new powers, and that Government is “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".

The Home Secretary later told Parliament that she will convene a meeting with the police and representatives from the social media industries to to discuss how to improve the technological and related legal capability of the police. They will discuss "whether and how we should be able to stop people communicating via these websites and services", she said.

David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, had called for BBM to be suspended so that rioters, many of whom were using the free service, would be prevented from planning further attacks.

The police have also made a number of arrests after people made statements on Facebook that were allegedly inciting illegal behaviour.

A No 10 source said that the Government would examine the technical and moral questions of blocking users’ access to a service, as well as looking at whether police powers had kept pace with modern technology.

The Government is thought to be looking at how to block individual users, rather than shutting down entire services.

Earlier in the week, a top twitter topic in London was “#blockbbm”, but after the Prime Minister’s statement Labour MP Tom Watson called the suggestion “Luddite”.

Users of Twitter claimed the positive aspects of the service, such as to organise clean-up campaigns after the riots, demonstrated that the technology itself was neutral.