We all know that social networking has many features, from keeping in touch with friends to finding out about our favorite celebrity personalities. Now, we can firmly add crime-fighting to that list. The NYPD is increasing its online investigative department after arresting 49 gang members from two rival gangs that used Facebook statuses and wall posts to intimidate one another. The success of the three-year operation is encouraging the NYPD to expand its online crime-fighters to 300 members. Not to be outdone by the Big Apple, Seattle’s police department has started 51 “hyper-local” Twitter accounts, which lets the city’s residents know what they should look out for in their neighborhoods. Several other cities’ police departments have taken to Twitter in recent years to better inform their residents, but Seattle’s initiative is the most advanced, and is part of their department’s plan to modernize their police force. I can’t help but think just how close we are getting to Minority Report’s future crimes unit.
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