London/UK Riots Coverage (Sky News/BBC News Channel)

Channel 4 News have some good analysis on this: basically, switching it off is probably out of the question, but police are using Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act* to get messages from BBM.

* the same law that News International are accused of breaking, oddly enough.

There's a story in one of John Simpson's books that shortly after he joined the BBC in 1966, there was a fire in a building opposite Broadcasting House. The editor of radio news refused to run the story until it was verified by two news agencies, despite the fact it was perfectly clear the building was on fire from the newsroom window !

I'm not suggesting a return to that sort of practice, but. . .

Radio 4's Media Show will have an interview with Sky's Mark Stone this afternoon. They're on air at 1330.

Daily Politics on BBC2 at 11am tomorrow for the parliamentary recall

All these riots getting me down, put this site is rather funny.

http://photoshoplooter.tumblr.com/

A bit off-topic, but..
Is there such a thing as a "low-power RF neutraliser"? I believe that some West-End theatres are able to switch on a piece of kit that effectively prevents mobiles ruining the on-stage performance.

If there was, then perhaps the Police could operate a (say) 1 mile RF exclusion-zone only on the mobile frequencies.

Perhaps an official "Your licence will be revoked if you don't turn your nearest cells off in the area" statement to the mobile operators, but ONLY in the particular area where the 'troubles' are happening.

This would prevent the alleged organisers contacting their troops elsewhere. There would be no lack-of free-speech concern, because the telephone boxes would still be available (if they hadn't been destroyed by the.... oh dear....

The Media would have access to their own frequencies anyway...

I have a pretty strong feeling that the use of such devices is currently illegal in the UK.

Fair point, however the "Home Office" do control frequency allocation and there must be a few words lost in the small print of the operator's licence saying that.... "under the direction of the Minister.... etc... "National Requirement"..... "needs Must"..... " and...

"if you want the next renewal you'll co-operate... (hint).... "

Oh look, we have a technical reason to turn it off for a brief period....

I was under the impression the Home Office does not control frequency allocation that would be Department for Culture and Ofcom.

One problem is that BBM can work with PAYG tariffs ? Perhaps BBM, and also Twitter and Facebook need some sort of traceability, by means of registration via a credit or debit card, or Pay Pal account. That gives some form of traceability, or at least more than is possible at present, particularly with FB and Twitter. Blocking the ability to send multiple SMS might be prudent too.

The phone mfrs/ISPs/mobile networks etc I feel have some responsibility to make some real attempt to reduce the abuse of their products. Ironic really given their stores are the primary targets for destruction and looting !

Requiring credit card information for social networking sounds really Big Brotherish to me. Also, wouldn't users just switch to new social networks if, say, Facebook were to adopt such a policy?

Unless, of course, you want the State to enforce such traceability across the board -- which I would consider an absolutely unacceptable intrusion of the State into the private sphere and the lives of law-abiding citizens (and their ability to make their own decisions). Besides, how could you even do it given the Internet's global nature?

Increasing the power of the State, especially in the area of speech, can have serious repercussions down the road.

Being hit on the head by a brick, and having your home torched is an unacceptable intrusion too I'm afraid.

What I'm suggesting is no different in principle to BT passing on your details should you make illegal use of your telephone (which they would do), are you saying to me it's 'unacceptable intrusion' for BT to know your bank account details too ?