People watch a burning car

Social media helps track down rioters, looters

The power of social media has come to the fore once again. This time in a different form. Social media helped police in identifying rioters and looters in the violence that rocked Vancouver. The Canucks fans who went on rampage after their team’s loss must be kicking themselves.

As soon as the riots broke out, Vancouver Police Department took to Tweeter and warned the rioters. Most of the rioters have now been identified thanks to social media. Police urged people to provide pictures or video footage of the violence and there has been an overwhelming response to the appeal.

Social media is seen as sheriff of this ugly incident, as many people were rounded up based on the information provided by the public on social media, including Facebook and YouTube.  Worried about the new trend, some perpetrators of the violence are surrendering themselves while some have taken part in the cleanup of the city in a sign of repentance. According to reports, several rioters were fired by their employers.

On the VPD Facebook page, the police have posted instructions on how to submit YouTube videos to VPD. VPD is also actively using Flickr and YouTube to interact with the public and urging them to come forward with the evidence. On Facebook, several groups are established under the title: “Vancouver 2011 Rioters Public Humiliation Page” and “Help Vancouver: post pics and video of rioters and looters.”

According to a recent poll, more than three-quarters of people living in B.C. and Metro Vancouver believe the riots were orchestrated by a small group of people, and about two-thirds are of the view that police adequately tackled the situation. Social media played a pivotal role in facilitating the job of law enforcement agencies as this could have taken police months to make headway. Social media added a new feather to its cap.