The FBI is willing to do just about anything when it comes to tracking down bad guys. They did the widgets thing last year. And today they announced that they’ve “set up shop in several social media websites.”
They’ve now got profiles on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube profiles are highlighted. They even have billboards up in Second Life. But nothing is mentioned about MySpace. Except that you can add FBI widgets to “social media websites such as Facebook, MySpace, and Blogger.”
Given all the attention the Attorneys General have given MySpace over the years you’d think it would be the first place they’d stake out and infiltrate. But as of now, they’ve got no official presence there. At least, none that they’ll admit to. A search on MySpace, after you work through the ridiculous advertising clutter, shows nothing.
Probably the only thing MySpace hates more than getting too much government attention is this – getting completely ignored while fast growing competitors get all the attention.
Update: From Jonathan Cox at the FBI – “We have a widget that works on MySpace, but nothing formal yet. Its a long vetting process and I have so many government rules to follow it would make your head spin. This is just the beginning though. I’ll keep you posted as things progress. Thanks.”
Well really, other than every awful local band and viagra spammer who uses myspace?
I use Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – Myspace is no good compared to these sites. Myspace is filled with so much spam, it is useless nowadays.
What’s really great for me and people in my country is that we’d rather not have people go to MySpace where they protect the jews! This is wonderful! go allah muslim for ever!
Fuck you, idiot terrorist.
“Terrorist”? Yeah, right. As if.
Wow, YouFail, did YOU ever just get played or what?
LOL!!!
which has more spam, myspace or techcrunch?
Not a surprise, social networks are only there to keep tabs on everyone’s business. What better way to get the public’s info than to make them offer it up for free.
FBI probably already has access to them
Not strange at all. It takes a long time for all FBI employees to take ‘top corner MySpace pics’ and match them with the new ‘Official FBI Glitter’.
Haha, nice
Completely missed their target audience on this one, they’re all hanging out on myspace. Great quote from the FBI btw.
I was thinking the same thing. There are *a lot* of thugs on MySpace…. especially compared to FB and *especially* compared to Twitter.
Funny. There doesn’t seem to be a very long vetting process or many head-spinning government rules to follow when the FBI contacts the myspace legal/compliance department and demands information.
Nice tin foil hat you got there… is that Kangol?
What’s the use of FBI having a profile on social sites?
Does it mean I can add the feds as my friend now ??
Because it’s not good enough for them to know your business secretly, it is now in your face(book) and watch how the people go ‘baaa baaa’
It is a Facebook page, which you can become a fan if you want… but I am not sure what do they expect to find or communicate about.. fugitives!!!
If I know something and I want to tell the FBI, I wouldn’t post it lightly on Facebook using my FB profile… come on!!
I think it is a PR stunt.. nothing more!
heh. something about my taxpayer money going towards this crap bothers me.
something about how individuals have to pay federal taxes without any law stating so bothers me
Interesting point of view
Well, I would say the fact that MySpace charges somewhere around $100K for brands to have their own profiles has something to do with it. It’s free on all the other platforms.
since when?
You’re right, the FBI is struggling with capital right now.
Because MySpace is rooted in ugly customisable profile pages, it’s difficult to have an “official” presence on MySpace outside of equally obnoxious music pages. MySpace needs to grow up.
because we are the terrorists… not a war on terror but a war of terror… wake up… two legs good, four legs bad, baaaaaaaaaa
MySpace doesnt need a FBI app given the security department is run by a former FBI agent and the CSO is a former Asst United States Attorney.
how quickly everyone seems to forget that 900k pedophiles we’re kicked off myspace last year and what do you know? According to the FBI they all showed up on FB!!!
Yea, no surprise. I barely use myspace, it won’t be long until you see a bunch of “Lets be #friends. #convict.” tweets.
I think this is also a brilliant way for the bureau to attract talent — both agents and IT specialists for their Internet crimes division. What a great way to make an old organization seem hip and cool to a whole new generation.
Interesting.
Also, I noticed like a min ago when I went to myspace, that they have also launched a Chat similar to facebook.(iFrame at the bottom of the page)
Nice on FBI! Now they’re really into clouds!
wohooo.. don’t put details information, just keep doing it for marketing purpose..
big brother….never heard of THAT before
So… are they going to send you a private message before they blow the doors down and come for you
No, no, I don’t think so.
I *fear* your FB inbox. Is that screen cap yours?
Yikes.
unlike other social media products (think twitter), myspace and facebook are basically the same. it seems like there’s room for only one company in that space. but that doesn’t bode too well for facebook, being in a field where there’s no room for anyone else. there’s room for more than one operating system, more than one instant message, more than one search engine, etc.
Be their friend, watch their videos, it is all social for them, as for fighting crime on the internet, soon they will become useless, don’t call in the cavalry, for youtube anyway, all soldiers and their families are told to stay away from youtube
who ya gonna call Ghostbusters
wondering useless?
Banned Americans
On American websites
No FF?
MySpace is so yesterday!!! Butt ugly sites rule there.
The FBI and CIA have to protect us after all, why shouldn’t they embrace Social Media? My friend Jas just tried to drop a comment here. It seems whenever he links to:
http://www.albu...ay.com/facebook the comment is automatically banned. I would also love to see TC discuss the relationship between the IAO, CIA and Facebook in the open. Will this comment be published? If not, why not?
Lol it’s very ridiculous