DATE: May 4, 2018
TO: Erin Kiley
FROM: Daniella Gonzalez, Daysi Scheker, Gabriele Maxius, Chase Stante, Bradley Clement
SUBJECT: Forensic Computing Report
As you may recall, our group decided it would be best to submit a report about
certain solutions that need to be implemented in order for social media to have an
effective impact on the field of law enforcement.
We are presenting you with this report below. If you have any questions, we will
gladly respond and provide further information.
FORENSIC COMPUTING: A SOLUTION TO MISINFORMATION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
by
Daniella Gonzalez, Gabriele Maxius, Daysi Scheker, Chase Stante and Bradley Clement
FAU Students
Submitted to
Erin Kiley
FAU Professor
Florida Atlantic University
Boca Raton, Florida
May 4, 2018
ABSTRACT
Social media has become increasingly prominent when dealing with issues of communication and connectivity. These platforms are so favored, because they enable the transfer of information to occur with ease, to the extent that it is currently being utilized by over 92 percent of police departments (Kelly 2012). Though the benefits often outweigh the detriments, this is not the case when discussing the sanctity of the law and its advocates. This paper will discuss the solutions that need to be implemented in order to affect change on the manner that law enforcement uses social media. Specifically, two different methods that incorporate technological aspects in order to match the strength and speed of false data transfer.
Keywords: law enforcement, forensic computing, social media, misinformation
TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS………………………………………………………………………5
GLOSSARY………………………………………………………………………………………6
INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………7
WORKING SOLUTIONS…………………………………………………………………………8
• Solution 1: Algorithm……………………………………………………………………..8
o Benefits……………………………………………………………………………8
o Costs……………………………………………………………………………….8
• Solution 2: Anonymity…………………………………………………………………….8
o Benefits……………………………………………………………………………8
o Costs……………………………………………………………………………….8
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION……………………………………….8
• Accuracy………………………………………………………………………………….9
• Effective Protection………………………………………………………………………9
CONCLUSION………………………………………………………………………………….10
WORKS CITED…………………………………………………………………………………11
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Figure 1. Percentage of Officials Utilizing Each Platform………………………………………..7
Figure 2. Percentage of Social Media Use Within Law Enforcement…………………………….9
Figure 3. Benefits of Social Media in Law Enforcement ……………………………………….10
GLOSSARY
Algorithm a computed calculation, a series of operations done by a computer
Anonymity remaining unknown
Forensic Computing An analysis technique that compiles information from a computer
Law Enforcement members in a society that uphold the law and protect citizens
Misinformation false information that deceives
Social Media platforms that enable users to communicate and share information
Introduction
The issue of misinformation has been around since the introduction of social media platforms in our society. Misinformation is the consequence of an increasing reliance on the internet and people are consistently seeking out new information to spread. Unfortunately, “information sticks regardless of truthfulness but rather catchiness,” (Chin, Sin, Theng, Lee 2015). This is problematic particularly when it comes to the enforcing the law. 83 percent of law enforcement officials utilize social media websites to conduct investigations (see Figure 1) and in order to promote the effective operation of these officials, we have provided solutions to prevent the spread of false information within the field.
Figure 1 • Percentage of Officials Utilizing Each Platform
(Source: “Police Embrace Social Media as Crime-Fighting Tool, August 30, 2012”)
WORKING SOLUTIONS
The issue of misinformation is a social condition, meaning there is no set solution to eliminate the problem, the only way to avoid the severe repercussions is to adjust to its nature (Rosenstial 2017).
Algorithm: The police department cannot verify every lead they receive themselves, though they could probably work with computer engineers to formulate an algorithm that sorts through messages in order of importance. Algorithms have been successfully used in cryptanalysis to decode messages, forensics to identify a suspect’s genetic makeup and currently by law enforcement to verify if someone is a potential threat. Some benefits of this method are that an algorithm is an extremely versatile tool that could be programmed to do just about anything. In this particular case, the algorithm could be programmed to perform background checks on any incoming tip in order to determine the authenticity of the lead before conducting further investigation. Through the algorithm, any in-authentic or spam account could be flagged or blocked in order to prevent the further transfer of misinformation.
Anonymity: In order to maintain the integrity of the person reporting a lead and ensure their protection against any possible retaliation, websites that allow people to submit statements should employ a separate anonymous messaging system. Some benefits to this solution are that it is only accessible to the law enforcement officials and that it is easier to monitor than the former algorithm solution, and it prevents from the possibility of misinformation spreading further than the police department.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EFFECTIVE SOLUTION
In order to implement an efficient method to prevent the negative effects of misinformation from occurring, we need to further analyze the key features of the ideal solution. Since there is not a particular solution that would absolve officials from dealing with the consequences of the spread of false information, these are some characteristics that are essential in order to mobilize our interpretation of an adaptable fix.
Accuracy: In order to ensure that the algorithm positively impacts all the branches of law enforcement that are currently utilizing social media platforms (see Figure 2), the programming must remain accurate in terms of differentiating an authentic lead and a tip from a spam account. This is absolutely key since the algorithm will filter the messages and throw out the ones that are perceived to be from a fake account.
Figure 2 • Percentage of Social Media Use Within Law Enforcement
Effective Protection: In order to mobilize the solution of anonymity within social media websites, the program used to establish the anonymous direct messaging system must not collect any information from the person making a statement. This is essential in order to protect the accuser from any trouble. It also secures the police departments’ information since the messaging system serves as a third party and there is no direct contact between both the accuser and law enforcement.
Conclusion
Using social media platforms enables efficient crime prevention and allows for most low-profile crimes to be stopped before they escalate. Though, we desire to take it a step further and address the negative impact of false information when dealing with high profile crimes and suspects (see Figure 3). However, misinformation is a cultural phenomenon that cannot be completely stopped due to its connection to the increasing influence of social media. Instead of seeking to find the ideal fix to this problem, the solutions provided in this study are a temporary fix to the current phenomenon of fake news. Police departments currently employ certain methods to monitor crime activity, though certain methods have outgrown their efficiency. As this rapid spread of false information continues to evolve, new solutions need to be implemented to protect law enforcement officials and ensure the smooth operation of their duties.
Figure 3 • Benefits of Social Media in Law Enforcement
WORKS CITED
Anderson, J., & Rainie, L. (2017, October 19). The Future of Truth and Misinformation Online. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/2017/10/19/the-future-of-truth-and-misinformation-online/
Bloomberg (Producer). (2013). Boston Police Test Social Media's Forensic Value [Video file]. Retrieved from Academic Video Online: Premium database.
Bousquet, C. R. (2018, April 20). Why Police Should Monitor Social Media to Prevent Crime. Retrieved from https://www.wired.com/story/why-police-should-monitor-social-media-to-prevent-crime/
Chen, X., Sin, S. J., Theng, Y., & Lee, C. S. (2015). Why Students Share Misinformation on Social Media: Motivation, Gender and Study-level Differences. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 583-592.
Justice, I. C. (2017, February 08). How Law Enforcement Uses Social Media to Fight Crime. Retrieved from https://online.campbellsville.edu/criminal-justice/how-law-enforcement-uses-social-media-to-fight-crime/
Kelly, H. (2012, August 30). Police embrace social media as crime-fighting tool. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/30/tech/social-media/fighting-crime-social-media/index.html
(n.d.). How Social Media Is Changing Law Enforcement. Retrieved from http://www.govtech.com/public-safety/how-social-media-is-changing-law-enforcement.html
Roufa, T. (n.d.). Are the Police Watching You on Social Media? Retrieved from https://www.thebalancecareers.com/social-networking-and-law-enforcement-974548
Scar, P. B. (2016, September 20). Current Challenges In Digital Forensics. Retrieved from https://articles.forensicfocus.com/2016/05/11/current-challenges-in-digital-forensics/