Tory MP Louise Mensch said, Rumors spread on the social-networks had wasted police time during the riots. Photograph: Rex FeaturesLouise Mensch, Conservative MP and one of Parliament's more active Twitter users have supported David Cameron's call for social networking services can be closed temporarily during civil disorder.
Mensch, MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire and a writer, used Twitter to call for a "short temporary closure" of Twitter and Facebook to stop the unfounded rumours spread, which she said had occurred in Northamptonshire last week during the riots, spread from London to several cities of England.
"Common Sense. If riot info and fears spread of Facebook and Twitter, extinguish them for an hour or two and then restore. The world will not implode, "she said.
On her Twitter feed, she added: " police Northamptonshire advise me that much of their time and resources were wasted answering false alarms due to soc media rumors. At the time, should tweeted people believe hard before you put the term ' rumors of ' in a Tweet. Nonsense rumors W'boro [Copenhagen] = 999 calls. "
"I don't have a problem with a short temporary closure of social media like a problem with a short road or rail closure does not have. If short, necessary and used only in emergencies, so what. We would all survive if Twitter will be closed by a short during major outbreaks of violence. "
Greater Manchester Police, however, supported the use of social networks, says they have allowed authorities to correct the rumors before the vessels.
Kevin Hoy, web manager at Greater Manchester Police, said Twitter allowed them to provide "direct insurance" and "dispel rumours … in a way that we never could have achieved in the past".
that Twitter had been "overwhelmingly positive" and "decisive" channel communications as violence spread throughout the region. It has invited its 95,000 twitter followers "name and shame" suspected rioters in CCTV images it has posted online.
Devon and Cornwall Police warned against a kneejerk reaction to claims, Facebook, Twitter and BlackBerry Messenger played a key role in organising disorder throughout the country.
A force spokesman said: "you have to deal with these things in proportion. To put someone's door in because of something they posted on Facebook is clearly not proportional, but talk to their parents and give them Advice is proportionate. It has the desired effect, and we stand by that. "
David Cameron said Thursday the intelligence services and police was explore whether it was "right and possible" to cut them "to plot violence, disorder and crime" on social networks. Home Secretary, Theresa may, is to hold talks with all major social networks about their responsibility in times of unrest.
All three social networks said they would welcome a meeting with may. Facebook said it had boosted its internal team to monitor potentially provocative messages and actively had removed several "credible threats of violence" from the site.
But there are questions about whether interrupt people is necessary, and whether it is technically possible.
Police throughout the country have arrested a number of people accused of organizing or encouraging violence on social networks.
Devon and Cornwall Police made their first arrest on Friday over comments posted by those who are suspected of fomenting violence on social networks. The force has given "words of advice" to eight people, all under 25, of messages posted online.
"If we know they encourage crime on the way, so that we know we can come across them on the media they use. I would suggest it works because either [inflammatory messages] have been taken or no disorder has come to them, "said the spokesman.
He said Facebook users had undertaken "show a sense of social responsibility" and report the inflammatory pages this week, resulting in them can be closed.
Current powers allow police to order cellphone companies to free up space on their networks, people try to call the emergency services. However, this is seen as a last resort.
O2 denied accusations that it turned off parts of its network in London during the unrest.
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