Facebook and WEB 2.0: What does Facebook and other social networking sites have to do with criminal investigations?
1.0 Introduction
This blog entry shows the relationship between Facebook and criminal investigations. The blog will start with a recent incident that happened right here in Muncie, Indiana.
2.0 Facebook possible use in Muncie, IN Police Investigation
According to a Ball State Daily News report, five women were arrested for beating another woman and were bragging about it on Facebook. If charges are filed, the information that was found on Facebook could be used against the women.
3.0 Mistaken Identity?
According to a CNN report a gay man has accused another man of beating him and on the campus of Georgetown University. The attorney of the accused says that he was mistakenly identified by the accuser. The accuser found his alleged assailant by using Facebook.
4.0 Sex Offenders on Facebook
According to a New York Times report, a Connecticut Attorney General’s investigation has found at least 3 or more sex offenders using Facebook The report also details actions of a worried parent was having concerns about sexual predators. The worried parent created a fake account; posing as a 15 year old girl, named Jeri Gleason. The parent then was signing up mostly for sexual themed groups and was receiving messages from older men inquiring about her.
5.0 Additional Information
The Web 2.0 website, Wikipedia, has an entry that is called social networking sites and investigations. The entry details more investigations that are involved with Facebook. These investigations include campus alcohol violations, a hit and run, and inducing panic.
References
(2007, September 29). Pegasus Newswire. Southlake man arrested in DC attack based on Facebook evidence Retrieved November 6, 2007 from
http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2007/sep/29/southlake-man-arrested-dc-attack-based-facebook-ev/
Stone, B. (2007, July 30). New Scrutiny of Facebook over Predators. New York Times, Retrieved November 6, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/business/media/30facebook.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1185806585-eLEysnwbZjbqGhpju4oLmw&oref=slogin
Use of social network websites in investigations. (2007, November 6). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 10, 2004, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_of_social_network_websites_in_investigations
Zilal S. (2007, October 17). Charges on hold in beating:
Prosecutor awaits injury details, expects to proceed next week. Ball State Daily News, Retrieved November 6, 2007 from http://media.www.bsudailynews.com/media/storage/paper849/news/2007/10/17/News/Charges.On.Hold.In.Beating-3037089.shtml