Experts call for moderation in the provision of digital information so as not to provoke instances of mistaken identity
MADRID, 16 (EUROPE PRESS)
The FBI already has 140,000 photos and videos of the mob that stormed the Capitol on January 6 in a raid that resulted in five deaths and more than 100 arrests so far. the majority thanks to the digital identification of the members of the mob.
More than 275 suspects have already been identified, according to court documents, while investigators, academics and civilians have responded to calls from the FBI networks to provide as much information as possible to document those responsible.
“We leave no stone unturned,” said Steven D’Antuono, the deputy director of the FBI’s Washington office, “and we want more.”
The FBI has opened a portal to accept any type of information in order to use facial recognition software and an application to confirm a trail of location data left by the rioters’ cell phones, as the carriers in the United States are required to provide services to deliver information in response to searches.
DANGER OF CONFUSION
But while the digital network has proven useful for law enforcement, this form of identification also carries risks for the many civilian volunteer “detectives” who publish screenshots of who they claim are criminal offenders. the law.
Falsely identifying someone as a troublemaker, or even correctly identifying someone who was on Capitol Hill but was not involved in any criminal acts, can be an act of defamation that can lead to fines, lawsuits and expensive settlements.
“Anyone who thinks, ‘Oh, I know that person,’ just need to call the authorities. It’s safer, both legally and physically,” said Sandy Davidson, a First Amendment expert and professor emeritus at the University of Missouri. Columbia. “This person has fulfilled his civic duty without risking legal damage to himself or herself and without unduly harming another person’s reputation,” he added.
Other experts warn against widespread surveillance by people who may have been on Capitol Hill just to participate in a legal political rally, previously mentioned by US President Donald Trump.
In any case, “nothing prohibits people in the public from sharing information with law enforcement officials,” added Greg Nojeim, director of the Freedom, Security and Technology Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology.
Of course, “the security forces should make sure that the information they receive is useful for investigating the crime, rather than investigating the activity of free speech,” he clarified in statements to Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, authorities continue to methodically investigate the mafia’s digital trail. The documents speak of clues left in the images, and conversations with all employees and acquaintances who led authorities to the suspects after seeing their images in news reports or on social media.
Acting Federal Prosecutor for the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, has indicated in this regard that there are “thousands of potential witnesses” who could lead to “hundreds of criminal cases” in an investigation that will span months with a wide variety of agencies involved. including the 56 FBI field offices around the country.