4 ms·

How do you know that the police themselves don't put porn on someone's computer to get them?

axoltl 10y ago
It's all about incentive and opportunity. The Geek Squad employee has a good incentive to do so as it means a $500 payday. Considering these guys' likely pay, that's a decent chunk of change. They also have plenty of opportunity to do so, they handle computers all day long. The police on the other hand have less of an incentive to do so, unless they were specifically trying to hurt someone. They also have far less opportunity, as they would've already needed a reason to have said computer in their possession.
diydsp 10y ago
Consider access, similar behavior, similar prosecution and motivation. Motivation: Police structure and culture are set up so that catching more criminals gives kudos but not financial incentive. Other behaviors are valued higher, such as keeping calm in a situation, endurance, ability to negotiate intense situations. Crimes themselves are only a part of police work, much is peace-keeping, presence, simple observation and record-keeping. Television of course, focus on the most dramatic elements, but upon catching a pedophile, incentive isn't necessarily the highest perspective of importance. You still have to touch the creep, take their statements, deal with it emotionally, transport them all over the place in your vehicle. Similar behavior: With the extremely rare exception of a few bad apples, very few police plant evidence at crimes. It has happened, just like hot air balloons sometimes fall out of the sky, but it's not a system which incentivizes and rewards the behavior. Access: Police aren't at the keyboards of peoples' PCs, whereas Geek Squad people are given complete access to computers often in peoples' houses and in private. Moreover, they're typically working with an especially vulnerable population, those with little technical literacy. Fabricating that evidence remotely is a chore and supposing users employ half-decent passwords and ignore phishing, non-trivial. It requires special training and even equipment. Similar Prosecution: Piracy and other forbidden data is more efficiently done by cutting things of at the source, typically by sophisticated actors who won't be in contact with The Geek Squad. It only rarely pays to go after individuals like this, or maybe there's more to the story than we understand from what the media tells us.
- fnordfnordfnord 10y ago
  >With the extremely rare exception of Police malfeasance is not extremely rare in the United States. What's rare is one getting caught, and even more rare suffering a meaningful consequence, and rarer still prosecution for crimes committed by police. >a few bad apples, You do know that you're misusing the quip, right? A bad apple spoils the bunch. >very few police plant evidence at crimes. On what basis do you make that statement? They plant evidence, they invent it from thin air (I smelled marijuana, alcohol, etc.) They misuse drug dogs. Some of them are very much "ends justify the means" types who will take shortcuts to convict people they "know" to be dirtbags. >it's not a system which incentivizes and rewards the behavior. You should study what motivates police officers. Fact is, such malfeasance is rewarded, a lot of other terrible behaviors are rewarded officially and unofficially. But the thing that's rewarded the least in policework? Admitting mistakes.

It's all about incentive and opportunity. The Geek Squad employee has a good incentive to do so as it means a $500 payday. Considering these guys' likely pay, that's a decent chunk of change. They also have plenty of opportunity to do so, they handle computers all day long. The police on the other hand have less of an incentive to do so, unless they were specifically trying to hurt someone. They also have far less opportunity, as they would've already needed a reason to have said computer in their possession.

diydsp 10y ago

Consider access, similar behavior, similar prosecution and motivation. Motivation: Police structure and culture are set up so that catching more criminals gives kudos but not financial incentive. Other behaviors are valued higher, such as keeping calm in a situation, endurance, ability to negotiate intense situations. Crimes themselves are only a part of police work, much is peace-keeping, presence, simple observation and record-keeping. Television of course, focus on the most dramatic elements, but upon catching a pedophile, incentive isn't necessarily the highest perspective of importance. You still have to touch the creep, take their statements, deal with it emotionally, transport them all over the place in your vehicle. Similar behavior: With the extremely rare exception of a few bad apples, very few police plant evidence at crimes. It has happened, just like hot air balloons sometimes fall out of the sky, but it's not a system which incentivizes and rewards the behavior. Access: Police aren't at the keyboards of peoples' PCs, whereas Geek Squad people are given complete access to computers often in peoples' houses and in private. Moreover, they're typically working with an especially vulnerable population, those with little technical literacy. Fabricating that evidence remotely is a chore and supposing users employ half-decent passwords and ignore phishing, non-trivial. It requires special training and even equipment. Similar Prosecution: Piracy and other forbidden data is more efficiently done by cutting things of at the source, typically by sophisticated actors who won't be in contact with The Geek Squad. It only rarely pays to go after individuals like this, or maybe there's more to the story than we understand from what the media tells us.

fnordfnordfnord 10y ago
>With the extremely rare exception of Police malfeasance is not extremely rare in the United States. What's rare is one getting caught, and even more rare suffering a meaningful consequence, and rarer still prosecution for crimes committed by police. >a few bad apples, You do know that you're misusing the quip, right? A bad apple spoils the bunch. >very few police plant evidence at crimes. On what basis do you make that statement? They plant evidence, they invent it from thin air (I smelled marijuana, alcohol, etc.) They misuse drug dogs. Some of them are very much "ends justify the means" types who will take shortcuts to convict people they "know" to be dirtbags. >it's not a system which incentivizes and rewards the behavior. You should study what motivates police officers. Fact is, such malfeasance is rewarded, a lot of other terrible behaviors are rewarded officially and unofficially. But the thing that's rewarded the least in policework? Admitting mistakes.