Australian Police Ask Facebook For Police Alarm Button 237
littlekorea writes "The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has requested social networking site Facebook install a law enforcement representative in Australia and introduce some sort of button in which users can immediately report online crime to the police in a single click. It is National Cyber-Security Awareness Week in Australia, so the AFP is on an all-out offensive — announcing it is also investigating whether Google committed offences under Australia's Telecommunications Interception Act when it harvested Wi-Fi data." Something like this has been in the works for a while.
australia? (Score:2, Insightful)
Whats up with australia? its a development country yet seems to go crazy with censorship and crazy laws
Re:australia? (Score:5, Insightful)
They want to 'develop' into a fascist state off the bad and skip that whole messy democracy stuff
Re:australia? (Score:4, Insightful)
They want to 'develop' into a fascist state off the bad and skip that whole messy democracy stuff
It's true. The AFP also wanted a few other Facecook buttons: "Are my Papers OK?" and "Turn in My Parents". The real problems started in Australian politics when the christian fundys managed to get a guy into parliament. I guess they think they have the moral high-ground; when really they're just a bunch of arse-clowns, pushing their beliefs. So much for separation of church and state. *sigh*
Re:australia? (Score:5, Funny)
They got 'a guy' into parliament? 'A' guy? One? Let me tell you about the USA...
Re:australia? (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you're conflating Oz with Kansas, Oz is not part of the the US (yet). Our (cerimonial) head of state is the Queen and she is also the head of the church of England.
"The real problems started in Australian politics when the christian fundys managed to get a guy into parliament."
We have always had token fundies in both state and federal parliments, democracy is not an excuse to silence well organised nutters.
As for TFA; Try keeping it in perspective. Asking for a "snitch button" on facebook is no different to asking a TV station to put a "neighborhood watch" ad on TV.
Re:australia? (Score:5, Insightful)
So why aren't people up in arms because telco's are forced by law to provide a 000 service (ie: Aussie 911). Nobody is forcing facebook to do anything, it's a fucking request for a community service that facebook can either grant, deny, or offer something in between.
"It's WAY over the top for them to request something so intrusive."
Facebook may or may not see things differently but since it's mearly a request it's up to them to decide what is "over the top".
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Joking aside, in this specific situation, I say "give them exactly what they asked for" - A button at the top of every facebook page that reports something directly to the police. The more it reports, the better.
And when, a week later, the police beg to stop having their inbox flooded with useless complaints about every troll and mean comment posted around the world, then Facebook can take their t
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As for google - they have deliberately been sniffing WAP's - and the extent of that means that they may have been breaking a law which has existed for a very long time in Aus.
So get off your
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I suppose if I repeatedly hit myself in the head with a hammer I could eventually understand how those type of privacy laws equate to Nazi eugenics but seeing that I live in a police state someone would probably lock me up for seditious use of a carpentary tool before I managed to properly educate myself
Re:Is sniffing WAPs a crime? (Score:5, Insightful)
It's illegal to open the little box at the end of my neigboor's driveway and "sniff" the contents of their mail. It's illegal to open a pit in the footpath and "sniff" the contents of a telephone call...
The problem with your analogies is that they involve interaction well beyond what's going on in this case. With the mail, you have to open the mailbox, remove mail, and presumably open up envelopes to "sniff" the mail. With the telephone system, you're going a few steps even further. No sort of interaction is going on with wireless network sniffing.
To make your mail analogy work, we'd have to rework the mail system. We'd toss out mailboxes. Instead, there's a bulletin board. You tack your mail up on that when sending or receiving mail. If you're not too picky, you're just tacking up post cards. Anyone who's passing by who cares to look can see not only that you have a mail board up, but what you're using it for. Of course, some people have an issue with this - or are simply following trends set for them. They've taken to folding their post in half before tacking it to the board (WEP). Casual drive-by observers, such as Google, now can only tell that you've got a post board up and what it's called. They can see that you're using it. But beyond that, it takes effort to walk up to the board and unfold the message to read it (WEP being relatively trivial to decrypt depending on the details). Those in the post board industry weren't happy with that and developed envelopes that make it even more difficult to read your neighbors mail (WPA / WPA2). Most people are using these envelopes by default even if they don't understand why - it's the trendy thing to do (and most access point hardware has you set it up by default). All people would probably use these envelopes if they understood what's involved. A few people are running around screaming that Google looked at their post board - they're the same ones upset that a picture was taken of their front door.
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At this rate anything's bloody possible!
Online Identity (Score:4, Informative)
"Police buttons" like this will only work when the identity of the user is known, sort of like how 911 works...
I for one don't particularly like this trend, and much prefer to remain anonymous on the web.
In other words: donotwant
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Because this totally (Score:5, Insightful)
won't get flagrantly misused
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One click? (Score:5, Funny)
Doesn't Jeff Bezos have a patent on that?
Re:One click? (Score:5, Funny)
I was thinking, in case a criminal had you at gunpoint and you couldn't click on something without the bad guy noticing, that they could implement a single nod system for reporting crimes.
Re:Because this totally (Score:4, Interesting)
Indeed, now whenever people say things like "well, that's just criminal!", i'll feel obligated to press the button.
Actually I feel obligated to press it anyway, because it's stupid, but i'll be looking for excuses.
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Report every slightly suggestive picture. "I thought (s)he was a minor!".
Re:Because this totally (Score:5, Insightful)
I might have to sign up to Facebook again just to abuse this button.
It's the "correct" usage that is the problem (Score:5, Insightful)
Misused? It's the "correct" usage that is the problem...
They (The governments, cops, the man, whatever) keep trying to lower the treshold of reporting a crime. In theory, this is a good thing: If a crime is committed against me, I might already be upset etc. and should not be forced to jump through additional hoops. However, reporting a crime is notable thing that should be carefully considered. I am not some right wing nutjob who thinks that government should never interfere and whatnot but if someone is harassing you online, you really should think carefully if there is some better way to deal with the situation than involve the cops and the justice system with all its weight! When we aren't talking about crimes that put you or someone you know in immediate danger (in which case you generally should call 911 or its equivalent, not use some online system that isn't designed for that fast response) I think that it is actually better if you are required to visit a police station, call it or at the very minium send a goddam e-mail! If the crime is so insignifcant that you can't be bothered to send an e-mail to report it, perhaps you shouldn't report it!
Think about how people use Facebook. People use it after all the major events in life (break ups, etc.), during night when they are sleep deprived, after they haven consumed alcohol... And when only communicating with text there are plenty of possibilities for misunderstanding the other party (something that was meant as a joke can be misinterpreted and so on)... We really don't need effortless one-click-crime-reporting in that enviroment.
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Anyone who thinks this can be manned by "a" law enforcement officer has no idea what they're talking about.
On a side note, why just Facebook? I come across obvious criminals on Craigslist every day, but reporting that is basically impossible. Why single out Facebook?
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cuz, that's where the all childrenz is loitering
duhhh
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Because there was a murder here recently linked to Facebook [abc.net.au]. Not that this button would have done anything to prevent it, but the cops have got to be seen to be doing something to address it.
Re:Because this totally (Score:5, Insightful)
Even sadder, in practice, most of the things you see on Facebook are posted by "friends", so this is essentially encouraging you to rat on your friends.
On the other hand, if you really need to be using a "notify the police" button when hanging out with your friends, then maybe you need different friends.
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So what, if someone pushes the "criminal!" button, AU PD get full access to both your FB profile and the accuser's as well? No thanks.
I AM NOT A KOOK! (Score:2, Funny)
I'll see if I can come up with a Rossetta Stone that will enable one to translate between all four schools during my Psychology Dissertation. I'll start applying to some of the top schools after I ask the taxpayers of San Jose, California to spring for the taxi fare so a couple of San Jose's Finest can give me a lift to the Napa State psychiatric hospital in California's Napa Valley.
Crawfordian Psychoanalysis is derived from the following books as well as my life experience over the last twen
Re:I AM NOT A KOOK! (Score:5, Funny)
I AM NOT A KOOK!
Of course not. Why would anyone think you were a kook for posting over 4,400 words about some completely sane subject matter on Slashdot? I can't wait for the sequel: "More Shit No-one Cares About" and the eventual prequel: "Hey, Guess What I'm Thinking Right Now?"
If this was Facebook I'd be clicking that big red Australian 'Report An Online Crime' button right now to report you stealing minutes of my life.
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I think your IP should be banned.
So....slashdot should have a police button?
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I think your IP should be banned.
So....slashdot should have a police button?
Maybe not slashdot, but 4chan should have a police button :-)
While were adding buttons to facebook - where's my dislike button (that some people are actually asking for)
By any chance do they specify the button details? (Score:3, Funny)
"The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has requested social networking site Facebook install a law enforcement representative in Australia and introduce some sort of button in which users can immediately report online crime
Would they be specifying that it take on the form of an amber lamp? Would seem logical given the rest of Australia's wtf'ery.
Re:By any chance do they specify the button detail (Score:4, Informative)
See video [youtube.com].
After talking smack to Epic Beard Guy, harassing and then hitting him, Epic Beard Guy hit back at Amber Lamps, thus making Amber Lamps say "I need an amber lamps" because of his bleeding nose.
Pushes Big Red Shiny Button (Score:3, Interesting)
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Re:Pushes Big Red Shiny Button (Score:5, Funny)
Police: Do you have pictures of yourself on Facebook?
Me: Yes
Police: Are you a female?
Me: Yes
Police: Do you have small boobs?
Me: Err, umm, yes.
Police: We will be right there, thanks for turning yourself in.
For those that think I'm trolling: http://www.google.com/search?rls=en&q=australia+small+breast+law [google.com]
Not sure what is going on down under these days.
... and then (Score:2, Insightful)
I am certain that as soon as this is implemented, some guy or groups of guys will abuse this for all its worth. Whether it be for political reason, activicism of anything else. This will be like a DDOS on the poor guy who will be in change of checking these things, it will be a waste of money.
A One Click Solution? (Score:2, Interesting)
Putting a single click police call on Facebook? Can you imagine all the false alarms - whether by accident or on purpose? Is Australia going to prosecute false alarms?
I think some folks really need to put the Foster's down.
Re:A One Click Solution? (Score:5, Funny)
Does Amazon know about his?
It only violates Amazon's patent if you order an online crime with one click, not report one.
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Does Amazon know about his?
I'd nod in agreement but unfortunately I'd be violating Bezos' latest patent application [slashdot.org].
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Note the stated age of the person doing the reporting in a follow up confidential email/chat/phonecall.
Then wait for for the same name to show up again and again.
Log the suspects internet traffic and see what they are downloading.
This would be a great way to generate discovery without having a police officer in a chat/forum trying to build up a legend over months and years.
Why Facebook? (Score:5, Insightful)
can't see the website button getting abused in any way, no siree...
Re:Why Facebook? (Score:5, Insightful)
now picture this argument being brought to the US where the FBI gets a button, each of the 50 states gets a button, every county, town, city PD gets a button, etc. etc....the internet would collapse under the weight of all the buttons, none of which would ever get used for a useful purpose...
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That sounds like the case already with many pages that have dozens of buttons to "share" the web page via dozens of social networking sites. Heaven forbid it's one of those mouse over things where it exposes a pop-open panel festooned with social media buttons, usually covering up something that I wanted to read.
The people that want this button either are doing it for the attention, or haven't thought it through. If someone has reason to believe a crime is happening, they can place a phone call with the l
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Oh yes! Just like the 911 system, where you have a different number to call for every emergency!
The Government has no money (Score:2)
You mean charge the taxpayers, as in you and me, right? I disagree.
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As opposed to a 3-digit telephone number?
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Facebook has 500 million users - 1/6th of humanity
So the other three or so billion people on the planet are subhuman?
If you use Gmail, they have a "this is spam" button - that is certainly faster than calling Google's helpdesk.
That button doesn't contact any humans. And they STILL don't have a "reporting phishing scheme" button, though they do have some inadequate phishing detection.
Hurry, Let's Patent It (Score:2, Offtopic)
Why not use your own panic button? (Score:4, Insightful)
I have one, but admittedly it requires 3 keypresses not one click.
It's called a cell phone. "9" "1" "1" "Talk"
It works quite well for reporting both online and offline crime.
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What type of crimes? (Score:5, Insightful)
What type of crimes to they believe happen (often) on Facebook? And whatever other websites they might have contacted.
I don't see how this would result in anything but meaningless spamming of that "button".
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What type of crimes to they believe happen (often) on Facebook?
Privacy violations!
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you mean all the teenagers showing their public parts?
Fixed that for you...they actually do not own rights to their parts once they are uploaded.
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I don't see how this would result in anything but meaningless spamming of that "button".
It's like giving /b/ a direct line to the cops. They'll figure out that you can use this to partyvan a partyvan driver, and will keep doing it for the lulz.
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It wont matter what crime. just beacuse they are in a bad mood they will hit the button. "they called me names, go search their home and toss them in jail"
I wonder if the big red button will allow searches and seizures and jail without anything to back it up.
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They are not throwing out a millenia of common law, nor are they dismantling the westminster system, they are asking facebook to install a convinient link to the cops, end of story.
More importantly, what's the investigation like? (Score:2)
I don't see how this would result in anything but meaningless spamming of that "button".
Meaningless? No, it could probably be used for quite meaningful harassment of someone you don't like. Maybe even someone you barely know.
It'd be like Slashdot moderation, except instead of "-1, I don't like what you're saying," it'd be "-1, I'd like to give the police the pretext to access your accounts and search your house."
Unless, of course, there's a different set of rules for investigations triggered by this...
I thought I'd seen this before... (Score:5, Informative)
And I did, but it was just for the UK.
http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=10/03/12/0149233 [slashdot.org]
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UK users under the age of 19 will now be able to click on the ‘Report abuse’ link on each page and have the option to report the abuse directly to CEOP as well as to Facebook employees.
There is are lot of knee-jerk reactions in politics when tragedies such as this [bbc.co.uk] happen. Even more so when the currently uncensored UK internet (and incompetent parents) grant unfettered internet access to children who should really know better but don't.
Fortunately, that was the last government's reaction. When a gunman in Cumbria went on a killing spree recently, the current PM rejected immediate calls for heavier restrictions on gun ownership [bbc.co.uk]. I'm
If only... (Score:2)
If only there was a "indict for crimes against humanity" button next to every site that has some sort of facebook like/link bullshit.
When I see banners on brick and mortar stores asking "Are we facebook friends yet?" I die inside a little bit. When I see newscasts saying to "check our facebook", i get nauseous.
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Become a fan of Slashdot on Facebook [facebook.com]!
I'm starting to wonder (Score:3, Interesting)
I knew that Australia has had a neoconservative movement somewhat like here in the U.S., but they seem to have taken the GWB concept and really run with it. Any Aussies care to inform us Merkins wtf is going on?
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Uhhhh.. the religious right wanna take away our porn.
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We threw out the neocons and installed some neo-socialists. Our politicians can still safely walk the streets without a small army escorting them and that's not going to change unless they do something that really screws with our lives (such as running out of beer).
Quick, tell Amazon to patent it. (Score:2)
Patent one-click douchebaggery. Save us all.
Grab your proxies boys (Score:5, Funny)
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>>We're going to report some crimes.
I hereby award you the "Defender of Humanity Barnstar" in recognition of your achievements in cracking down on crime in Wikipedia.
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What the hell, Australia? What the hell? (Score:5, Funny)
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We were too busy out partying all night, thumbing our nose at the Man to elect decent (so far as the word can apply) politicians?
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That and the compulsory voting + preference distribution system of elections means that governments effectively change on the back of "marginal" seats, almost all in the suburban belts of the major cities where the votes of "concerned parents" is buyable with a few tax kickbacks (Family Payment Part A and B anyone? No not you, you degenerate working single young male) and a show of concern for the degeneration of society.
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Australia has always been on the conservative side in culture, religion and politics, despite the national stereotype of being open and fun-loving. In that sense, we've got a lot in common with the US. I'll go so far to say that Australia is a real prude these days.
Don't you already have one? (Score:2, Redundant)
Here in the US we've got something similar, and I bet the Aussies do too.
It's not on your computer, but it's on your phone, and has been for a while. You can pick up your phone and dial 911, and instantly get to talk to the police. You can use this to report crimes, ask for medical help, or even ask someone to come put out a fire! And this was /before/ the Internets, even.
Why the hell should Facebook have to provide yet another way to get in touch with the cops?
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911? THREE buttons?
What is this? 1950's technology?
psychological marshmellows (Score:2)
maybe the state can come and put them in adult diapers and feed them from a nipple too
reminds me of the uproar last week over some celebrity cunt using "rape" as a euphemism for privacy violation by paparazzi. oh, the insensitivity! we're degenerating into a bunch of wussified pansies with giant chips on our shoulders searching for something by which to be gravely offended.
Crimes on Facebook? (Score:2)
Is it Lord Humongous? Time to call Mel Gibson!
AFP is like the FBI (Score:5, Informative)
Just as a note,
The AFP or Australian Federal Police is not just the 'Australian Police' like the title misleads you to believe. They are known as 'the feds' and would be most similar to what Americans know as the FBI. And then there's ASIO which is the Australian Security Intelligence Organiasation and is akin to the CIA and NSA.
So yeah, the AFP ain't your local cop shop.
Brilliant idea (Score:2, Insightful)
Already know the outcome. (Score:2)
It will just end up putting a bunch of fat-finger drunks behind bars for "inappropriate use of emergency infrastructure".
Can I use the alarm button on HuffingtonPost? (Score:2)
It seems to me that web users would be hitting this button a lot as the design of most webpages classifies as an "online crime."
If I were Facebook... (Score:2)
I would do it. The amount of mis-use would almost have to convince the Police that this is a horrible idea.
Troll the Trolls.
Simple answer. (Score:2)
"No."
1800 1234 00 (Score:2, Informative)
Re:False alarm (Score:4, Funny)
Hmm... What happens if you accidentally click the button?
Then you're committing an online crime and reporting yourself, so I wouldn't recommend it ;-)
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A light lights up saying "Please do not press this button again". HHGTG
(:
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Hmm... What happens if you accidentally click the button?
Oh I wouldn't worry about it... since the button will probably be written in flash, just use an ipad and you ought to be safe
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Better yet -- there is a well defined standards-compliant HTML tag for this. It's called "mailto".
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Congrats on turning British. Enjoy your new reality.
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