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nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:46 AM Apr 2013

Behold the new power of the Internet and social media: Helping investigate bombings in record time

Very interesting to see this investigation being crowd sourced. Sure, it's led to some craziness but the pace at which suspects have been ID'd -- and incredible that one of the victims helped -- and further images found has been simply amazing. The fact that a clearer picture of suspect #2 was found on Facebook could be a game changer.

Somebody has to know these guys. They will be caught. However, I do worry that they might try to pull another attack before they are apprehended.

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Behold the new power of the Internet and social media: Helping investigate bombings in record time (Original Post) nobodyspecial Apr 2013 OP
Remember the name Richard Jewel. The internet can be dangerous. If the FBI has identified bluestate10 Apr 2013 #1
Remember it wasn't the internet that implicated Richard Jewel. Perhaps if cloudsoursing forensics Luminous Animal Apr 2013 #4
Well, the fact that one of the victims says he looked at the guy nobodyspecial Apr 2013 #5
That's the bad side of it. n/t defacto7 Apr 2013 #6
I think it's great. defacto7 Apr 2013 #2
Yes, but it was surveillance images from store security cameras frazzled Apr 2013 #3
I'm not discounting that nobodyspecial Apr 2013 #7
Ahem, it's also a double-edged sword. DinahMoeHum Apr 2013 #8
I think it should all be handled by the FBI nobodyspecial Apr 2013 #9
It should be handled by law enforcement... but COMPETENT law enforcement. TygrBright Apr 2013 #10

bluestate10

(10,942 posts)
1. Remember the name Richard Jewel. The internet can be dangerous. If the FBI has identified
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:56 AM
Apr 2013

the right suspects, then yes, the internet will become a powerful force for finding the two murderers. But if the FBI made a mistake, we could have two people with ruined lives while the real bombers get farther away.

Luminous Animal

(27,310 posts)
4. Remember it wasn't the internet that implicated Richard Jewel. Perhaps if cloudsoursing forensics
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:59 AM
Apr 2013

had been available, he wouldn't have been implicated from the get go.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
5. Well, the fact that one of the victims says he looked at the guy
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:59 AM
Apr 2013

and watched him put down the backpack has me fairly certain history is not repeating. Of course, the accused should be afforded due process.

defacto7

(13,485 posts)
2. I think it's great.
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:59 AM
Apr 2013

Even though there is so much ridiculous speculation, it helps people cope. People feel helpless. If nothing else, it fills a gap. As for information... the Internet community is doing great things these days. I believe if the authorities are careful and choose according to reasonable deduction, it can help immensely.

frazzled

(18,402 posts)
3. Yes, but it was surveillance images from store security cameras
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 12:59 AM
Apr 2013

that were what initially identified the perpetrators. These in turn have allowed others at the event to submit their higher res images, and for the public to help put names (and hopefully places) to the guys. But it couldn't have happened without these surveillance videos, poor in quality as they are. Without them, no one (including the victim who had posted his picture to Facebook) could pick out any particular individual as the bomber.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
7. I'm not discounting that
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 01:02 AM
Apr 2013

or the role so many other LEOs have played. I'm just commenting on the unique role the public is playing and how quickly information can be shared.

DinahMoeHum

(21,737 posts)
8. Ahem, it's also a double-edged sword.
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 01:07 AM
Apr 2013

AFAIC, it has to be tightly regulated by law enforcement professionals, like it or not.

"Crowdsourcing" a crime investigation is like asking amateurs to act as detectives, which may lead to amateur justice, and to cases and convictions being thrown out in court, even though the suspect may actually be guilty as hell.

Tread real careful here, folks.

nobodyspecial

(2,286 posts)
9. I think it should all be handled by the FBI
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 01:19 AM
Apr 2013

In no way am I advocating vigilante justice or interfering with the investigation. I'm just talking about all of the eyeballs available to sort through the photos and share them.

TygrBright

(20,733 posts)
10. It should be handled by law enforcement... but COMPETENT law enforcement.
Fri Apr 19, 2013, 02:35 AM
Apr 2013

Of which we do not have nearly enough.

We have too many cowboys, crackpots, and creeps in the ranks of our law enforcement agencies now. It's always been a hazard, but we seem to have gone well over the tipping point in the last couple of decades.

With all due respect for the need for discretion, and the requirements of evidence and due process, I think getting more citizens aware of and concerned with the process of investigation may be useful, if only to keep things on the level.

regretfully,
Bright

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