Student’s Online Communications Aid Criminal Charges
Mar 14th, 2006
The Web may seem like a place to engage in intimate conversations, but many people forget that it's an open book for whoever cares to look in it.
Often, this can lead to negative repercussions, such as the loss of privacy, or even stalking. But sometimes, it may offer fodder to achieve justice.
Almost immediately after three college students were recently arrested for setting fires to nine churches in Alabama, law enforcement began perusing the arsonists' online communications. These online conversations were later used in prosecution of the students.
"We now have law enforcement who are using Facebook postings to prosecute students," Aftab said. "Schools have prevented kids from enrolling or expelled students because of postings. It can prevent them from getting jobs because of their postings.
"You are dealing with kids in college who are bright enough to know the difference, but they don't get it," Aftab said. "If they are in a computer room typing things in with their friends, they think those are the only kids who are going to see it. It's open to tens of millions of people."
It seems as if invading online 'privacy' could be construed as a positive action in this instance, but is any invasion a warning sign? Should students be so free to share personal information with friends, and by association, with unknown visitors who may be lurking nearby?
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