PICT2001: Social Media and Law Enforcement - Benefits and Challenges

This presentation explores the application and benefits of social media in law enforcement. It begins with an overview of social media platforms and their increasing role in modern society. The presentation then delves into how law enforcement agencies utilize social media for various purposes, including informing the public about crime incidents, locating missing persons, and enhancing community trust. It highlights specific examples of how social media facilitates communication and investigation initiatives, leading to increased transparency. The presentation also addresses the challenges associated with using social media, such as the lack of authenticity of information, modification of content, and the spread of false information. Finally, the presentation references several scholarly articles and capstone projects to support its arguments, providing a comprehensive overview of the topic.

Social media and law enforcement
Applicati on and benefi ts

Overview of social media
A popular digital platform to view and share content
with friends, peer and people. therefore, it provides
context for social networking that connects people
through virtual platforms.

Popular social media platforms
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Youtube

How social media platform helps in law enforcement
Many law department including police departments
are now considering application of social media for
managing law enforcement. Therefore, its popularity
is increasing as well.

Informing public about crime incidents
Social media helps in communicating with people easily and as many
people are associated with social media platforms that it is easier to
ensure that information reaches to people many people quickly

Locating any missing person
Social media has become an important tool for police department for
altering public if some gets missing. It is often seen that when
someone gets missing police department post picture of that person
along with necessary details about that person. Anyone who has
information is encouraged to contact police department.

Enhancing community trust on law enforcement
• Informing people about investigation initiatives
• Communicating with people regarding progress in
investigation
• Increases transparency and enhances trust on law
enforcement

Challenges
• Lack of authenticity in information
• Modification in content of information

Challenges
• False information
• Affects reputation of authority

References
• Bullock, K., 2018. The police use of social media: Transformation or normalisation?. Social Policy and Society, 17(2), pp.245-
258.
• Coaffee, J., de Vries, A. and Hadjimatheou, K., 2019. Enhancing public security through use of social media. European Law
Enforcement Research Bulletin, (18), pp.11-24.
• Daddey, F. and Armstrong, J., 2017. What is the Impact of Social Media on Law Enforcement Practices? Capstone Project
Sebastien Houle LAWS 4003.
• Harms, J. and Wade, L., 2017. Reconnecting with the Public: Police Use of Social Media. Journal of Law Enforcement, 6(1).
• Mentzer, K., Fedorowicz, J. and Williams, C., 2019. POLICE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA: COMPARING CLASSIFICATION
METHODS. Issues in Information Systems, 20(3).
• Pickering, D., 2019. Expanding the Use of Social Media in Law Enforcement Agencies.
• Rice, S.K. and Parkin, W.S., 2016. Social media and law enforcement investigations.
• Sampson, F. and Lyle, A., 2017. Legal considerations relating to the police use of social media. In Application of Social Media
in Crisis Management (pp. 171-190). Springer, Cham.
• Williams, J., 2017, July. Legal and ethical issues surrounding open source research for law enforcement purposes. In ECSM
2017 4th European Conference on Social Media (p. 398). Academic Conferences and publishing limited.

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