7 ms·
Activists broadcast messages publicly on social media; public servants read them. How is this controversial? If you want privacy, surely you should understand
by nxc18 10y ago
Activists broadcast messages publicly on social media; public servants read them.
How is this controversial? If you want privacy, surely you should understand that sharing on the web isn't the way to go?
In a lot of these cases where protests turn into violent riots a police response is necessary, if at a minimum to keep the peaceful protestors safe. Using publicly available information to facilitate that makes perfect sense.
- cryoshon 10y agoThe concern is that the police are considering peaceful activism as hostile intent, and escalating scrutiny accordingly. Furthermore, more monitoring of activists provides more chances for incitement/provocation by the police as needed.
- thatcat 10y ago>the police are considering peaceful activism as hostile Exactly. Police are willfully misinterpreting participation in a conversation intended to raise awareness about police misconduct in an attempt to intimidate activists into remaining silent. Using social media as a surveillance apparatus to manage their public image through intimidation is essentially cyber bullying.
- ch4s3 10y ago> manage their public image through intimidation is essentially cyber bullying When an actor representing the state does this, I think it is appropriate to call it oppression. Sure, it isn't the Stazi, interrogate you in a small room for days kind, but it isn't exactly friendly or well meaning either.
- arca_vorago 10y agoTell the people who have disappeared into police run black sites like the one we know about in Chicago that, and I bet they would disagree. Interrogation for days without a lawyer sound awfully close to Stasi-esque to me. As Thomas Drake says, the Stasi would have killed for the surveillance engine regular lea's have at their disposal today.
- dragonwriter 10y ago> As Thomas Drake says, the Stasi would have killed for the surveillance engine regular lea's have at their disposal today. OTOH, "X would have killed for Y" doesn't say a lot about Y when X is not actually known to be even slightly reluctant when it comes to killing.
- TunaRailgun 10y agoOh, that's happened. Don't go forgetting about the Chicago black sites and a bunch of other illegal detainment facilities that have been used (g8/g20/OWS) OWS was the big one really. It saw law enforcement cooperation not just across NA, but globally, to put down the protests, to share tactics, and also to threaten the activist leaders at the time into hiding. Many had been branded by the electronic system and profiled.
- okwhatthe2 10y agoYou're forgetting that in many cases these protests turn violent as a direct result of police confrontation. In that regard these surveillance operations only increase the likelihood of escalating tensions between citizens and police.
- sheraz 10y agoPlease explain that line of thinking. How does increased surveillance increase violence? If anything it gives law enforcement a heads up of where thier presence might be needed.
- pjc50 10y agoIncreased confrontation causes violence. In particular, finding groups who are protesting against previous police violence and provoking them tends to incite violence.
- krapp 10y agoPolice sometimes intend to incite violence at these events as a pretense to breaking up lawful protests. Especially when they are the ones being protested. edit - changed often to sometimes, since 'often' really isn't accurate. Lazy writing on my part.
- arca_vorago 10y agoPlease dont forget that its not just the ones in riot gear either, often the black-block anarchists who start the destruction of property which gives the lea the excuse to kettle/arrest protestors are plain cloths police/contractors acting as agent provocateurs, who then fade into background or even pass through police lines right before the push. Crowsds are so easily manipulated, its a time old tactic.
- daveguy 10y ago> often the black-block anarchists who start the destruction of property which gives the lea the excuse to kettle/arrest protestors are plain cloths police/contractors acting as agent provocateurs That sounds very conspiratorial. Is there any evidence for that claim?
- brbrodude 10y agoSo, so naive
- pc86 10y agoFeel free to actually contribute rather than making snide comments about the commenter.
- brbrodude 10y agoWell I didn't meant to offend him, I was just pointing out that I think it's a quite naive point of view and in doing so hoping he'll doubt himself and think about it :p I know the 'proper' way would be to write a dissertation on it and try to take his mind for a walk and go through why and etc, but well, I think he would be bored and I would too.
- infodroid 10y agoNobody should be in a police database just for joining a union or showing up at a protest.
- panic 10y agoHow does any part of "monitoring hashtags such as #BlackLivesMatter, #DontShoot, #ImUnarmed, #PoliceBrutality, and #ItsTimeforChange" work toward keeping peaceful protestors safe? These people are the peaceful protestors.