Gang profiling: UK council wants eye on social networks

01.11, 12:46

Britain’s Metropolitan Police have purchased a system which can identify, track and possibly shut off every cell phone in a 10-square kilometer area. The Orwellian system has raised concerns over potential abuses and violations of privacy.

01.09, 18:25

London Metropolitan police have reportedly urged British media outlets to hand over footage of the riots that swept the capital in early August voluntarily, without recourse to official procedures.

UK riots 24.10, 16:47

On Monday the British Parliament is to vote on whether to stage a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. The UK Conservative Party MP says Union involvement harms Britain's sovereignty.

Eurozone crisis //

Published: 03 November, 2011, 12:32

British riot policemen stand in front of a burning building in Croydon, South London on August 8, 2011 (AFP Photo / LEON NEAL)

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TAGS: Scandal, UK, Protest, Matt Trezza, Social networks, Laura Smith

The UK is desperately searching for a cure to the spread of gang culture after the summer riots. But a proposed strategy of monitoring social networks and spying on teens may see potential troublemakers totally isolated – with uncertain consequences.

­The reality of life in East London – young teens take part in a workshop on gang violence.  

With the government laying the blame for August’s riots firmly at the door of gangs, one London council is talking about making youth workers spy on gang members and monitor their social network activities.

Anything suspicious would be passed to a special anti-gang unit.

But the MP for Hackney, where some of the worst unrest took place, says it is not the technology to blame.

“There were riots in this country in the 12th century, and there was no internet, there was no text messaging then. So it is nonsense. Time would be better spent looking at the real causes of riots rather than blaming the messenger,” Hackney MP Diane Abbott says.   

For some young people, the youth club is a safe haven in an uncertain world. And message monitoring could undermine the important relationship between a youth worker and vulnerable team, making them less likely to turn to them in a crisis, and so more susceptible to gang overtures, and ultimately crime and violence.

Naz Ali has been working at this youth center in East London for two years. Young people spend time in a relaxed environment, and eventually, he gets to know them and see them when they are in trouble. He says money would be better spent looking at those who are already in gangs.

“The money they are going to spend they should actually spend with the gangs, each gang member, and try getting the gang members, and spend the money with them, where gang members can change their gang members. So that’s how they should spend the money. Monitoring: I don’t think so,” Naz believes.

During the riots, social networks like Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger were used by rioters to pinpoint the next location earmarked for destruction. The government went as far as proposing shutting down the services, while two men were jailed for four years each for inciting rioting on Facebook. But teens say spying risks isolating the very people they are trying to help.

“If that happens, people wouldn’t come to youth centers,” says one of the teenagers, Maten Mechmount.

There are undoubtedly social issues, and solving them requires walking a fine line between coming down hard on troublemakers, and preserving civil liberties for everyone. But it is clear that this measure, which would cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to enforce, could also cost the trust and goodwill of the same at-risk youth the authorities are so concerned about.

03.11, 11:35

In the US, all eyes are now on Oakland, where anti-corporate protests see their first casualty after a young man was hit by a car. Thousands took to the streets in the Californian city and shut down operations in one of America's major sea ports.

Occupy Wall Street 03.11, 12:33

New clashes have erupted in Oakland, California, between anti-corporate protesters and police, who have entered their camp. Up to 100 people have already been arrested, and the standoff at the camp continues.

Occupy Wall Street

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