Catching criminals through MySpace

[Steve]

US detectives have used friends lists and images on social networking website MySpace to identify and locate a number of suspects in a robbery and assault at a party. The vicim knew the attackers from MySpace before meeting them, and so detectives were able to use their profiles to track them down.

The men face charges ranging from sexual assault to felony theft. Some $40,000 in electronics, jewelry, clothing and other items were taken, authorities said. About $13,000 worth of stolen goods have been recovered.

[CNN]

There'll be plenty of time for blogging behind bars (have prisons gone blog-crazy yet? I'm not sure.)

[XA04]

Exactly why I don't like things like MySpace, it's pretty much an invasion of privacy. They even ask you to give out information such as your school name .

They could easily make up a database of information about you just from visiting your profile;
What you look like, the country/city/county/state you live in, school/college name, your interests or where they may find you (if you like to skateboard a lot... could show you go to skating points around your city/town).

etc.

Also: You're probably going to be more open and honest in a blogging situation - so you may give away more things, such as bragging about a fight.

[jackofalltrades]

don't have anything to hide do you XA04??

[Spud1]

don't have anything to hide do you XA04??

Exactly, if you have nothing to hide, what's the problem You give out all of that information freely, its all optional..

If you are bragging about being in a fight/robbery on your blog then you deserve to get caught tbh..It's a good thing that the police are realising how useful sites like myspace.com could be to them

[nichomach]

Agreed; I'd be the first to say that I despise the forcible invasion of privacy of something like the National Identity Register, but if you voluntarily publkish information for all the world to see, that "all the world" should certainly be expected to include law enforcement.

[XA04]

don't have anything to hide do you XA04??

ye..no, I don't know what your talking about.. IT'S NOT MY FAULT IT WASN'T ME I DIDNT DO ANYTHING, I DIDNT KILL HIM!. YOU CANT PROVE ANYTHING!. *shifts away*