Over 750 million people log into the social networking site of Facebook every single day, according to the site's very own user statistics. Once they are logged in, they have access to over 900 million different objects that they are able to interact with – from personal profiles to status updates, uploaded photographs and even wall posts. In fact, according to Mashable, an independent news source, the site has users that on average produce over 90 pieces of content each month of various different sources and kinds. This constant updated information has led to Facebook becoming on the cutting edge of online and digital communication, ushering in a new era of communication.
This, however, is not solely for entertainment. In fact, the use of Facebook has found a considerable niche in the criminal world. The days of wiretaps and paper trails may not be completely over, but it certainly has to make room for this new online way of tracking criminals. Authorities and law enforcement are continuing to turn towards social media to find mischief and incriminating evidence in statuses, photos, checked in locations and chats.
The Huffington Post recently looked into cases that had considerable involvement of Facebook, and the results were startling. For instance in Philadelphia, London Eley was accused of using the social network to find someone who would kill the father of her child, Corey White. In a status, she offered to "pay somebody a stack" to kill her "baby father." The offer was not ignored. Instead, Timothy Bynum commented several times with such comments as "say no more," requesting information regarding Corey's appearance and even stating that he needed the money first. The evidence gathered off of this comment thread played a key role in the case and both were taken into police custody.
This is not the only time that Facebook has found itself in the center ring of a criminal case. In Pennsylvania, it was discovered that a 39-year-old father, John Forehand, was attempting to solicit his teenage daughter for sex over the site. In the conversation, he continued to refer to himself as "Baby Daddy" and openly propositioned his daughter. He allegedly requested a meeting – explaining in graphic detail what his intentions were. The police were able to trick him into thinking he was going to meet his daughter and he was later captured and arrested. Forehand is now being held on $400,000 bail.
Stories like this only illustrate the profound role that the criminal system is changing to keep up with the modern times. It also brings to light several questions regarding privacy. What is considered private? What is open to search from law enforcement officers? Currently, Facebook is categorized as a digital medium regardless of the privacy settings on your individual profile. While the site is constantly attempting to strengthen the security of the privacy within the site, it has also been able to create a system where it is able to aid the criminal system through the use of updates made by its users.
One can only assume that this is the tip of the iceberg; with the continuation into the digital age, defendants can continue to expect that their online presence will play a very real role in their case. In fact, it has become routine work for police to check Facebook and other social networks, such as YouTube, for collaborating evidence in regards to any given criminal case. The end result is that officers are turning less towards such resources as eye witnesses and more to the actual defendants themselves. Never before has there been such a medium in which self-discrimination is so common.
