Law and Order and Social Media

16.Jun.11
by Jon Follett

At Involution, since we're fully immersed in the digital life, we're often deluged with articles via RSS and Twitter. In this, our first links round up, we thought we'd share some of what we've been reading online on the topics of innovation, social media, life, the universe and everything.

Facebook Reveals Vancouver Criminals
Unless you've been living in complete isolation, you know that last night, the Boston Bruins won their first Stanley Cup championship in 39 years.

You might also know that Facebook has recently changed their privacy settings to enable facial recognition.

These two seemingly unrelated items have resulted in the perfect storm for stupid criminals in Vancouver who thought it would be fun to trash their own city after the Canucks were shut out in Game 7.

Vancouver police and concerned citizens are using Facebook, and other online resources to identify the rioters. Although, in all fairness, the Vancouver police would rather you contacted them directly with information.

The lesson is: If you're going to flip a car during a riot, at least be smart enough to wear a mask, because Facebook will rat you out.

Social Media is the Bomb
Wired has an interesting article on how NATO is using information gleaned from Twitter to target Gadhafi's troops.

Well, if Facebook could help foment a revolution in Egypt, there's no reason that nearly ubiquitous open information stream Twitter can't reveal troop locations in Libya.

Back to the City
Boston and Cambridge are so filled with innovative start-ups that venture capital firms are now relocating their offices from the burbs back to the city. Investment money is following the talent: Not a bad thing at all.

Scott Kirsner reports on his Innovation Economy blog that Matrix Partners is opening a branch office in Kendall Square this summer.

Apple and DRM Again?
For whatever strange reason, Apple has apparently re-instituted DRM for downloads for its iCloud music rollout, GigaOm reports. This kind of weirdness from Apple, has driven me to the Amazon music store, where the DRM free albums are often significantly cheaper anyway.

Attention Apple: No one wants a warning message that music previously purchased can't be played because the particular machine isn't authorized for it.

Topics: Analysis, Blog