Police Learn Propaganda Tactics at Internet ConferenceJoe Wright The sixth annual Social Media, the Internet and Law Enforcement (SMILE) conference at the Omni Hotel in Richmond Virginia made the dissemination of propaganda a focal point. Being connected online puts police on the streets of the virtual world, which offers an opportunity to engage in news management. As stated by Police Chief Rick Clark: You cant afford not to. However, beyond merely walking a virtual beat and engaging their fellow citizens when called upon, emphasis was also placed on tactics for monitoring discussions for criminal activity through social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. This is a trend that is trickling down from the federal government who has come under fire from civil liberties groups for creating a range of social media task forces and initiatives; the Electronic Privacy InformationCenter directly took on DHS, seeking disclosure of records detailing the Department of Homeland Securitys media monitoring activities. And the Internet is apparently the biggest radicalizing threat of all, as just about anyone can apparently find a terrorist recruiter and enlist in a training camp, according to the Pentagon. (Source) That is, if youd like to collude with government agents to become a patsy for their latest false flag event, as has happened nearly every time, but I digress. We try to tell our own story, Norwood said. Its a real positive way to interact. And in words that any prospective tyrant would love: (Police Chief) Clark said he was lucky to work in a town without a daily newspaper or television station. He said he thought his departments website was his towns news source, at least on police information. Having a police station as the only source of news is even worse than having cable TV news which masquerades as something different than a political agenda dressed up in pseudo-debate. The guarantee of fair, balanced and truthful information sounds something like what the police division in Milwaukee says about their own website The Source, which claims to give you the genuine, unfiltered information from us. Because banning propaganda Ties the Hands of Americas Diplomatic Officials, Military, and Others by Inhibiting Our Ability to Effectively Communicate In a Credible Way. (Source) What we Do LAwS Communications provides interactive media consultation to law enforcement. We offer media expertise at all levels, traditional and interactive. We specialize in social media strategy consultation and training- through LAwS Academy for law enforcement agencies. LAwS Communications is the producer of The SMILE Conference and the creator of ConnectedCOPS.net. LAwS Communications LAwS Communications has been providing interactive media advice to law enforcement since 2005. LAwSComm provides excellent service and support exclusively to the law enforcement profession through training, strategy consultation and The SMILE Conference. The SMILE Conference is the leading conference devoted to social media, Internet and law enforcement initiatives. The SMILE Conference has pioneered the adoption of social media by law enforcement agencies across the world for public outreach, crime prevention, and forensics. In conjunction with the ConnectedCops Blog, the SMILE Conference has become both the go-to and most trusted source by law enforcement agencies worldwide. LAwSComms expert training is delivered through the LAwS Academy. Training is tailored to each agencys needs and delivered in half-day, full-day or multiple-day sessions. (Source) Open Source communication technologies available today allow organizations to efficiently gather and distribute information like never before. LAwS Communications works with law enforcement professionals to help make sense of the tools available, help agencies craft a plan and social media policy as well as provide the training needed. LAwS Communications can help law enforcement organizations not only understand why an agency should take advantage of social media technologies, but also how to leverage these vast resources. The agencies that are effectively using these tools are shrinking their communities, improving communication with citizens and enhancing their reputations through the transparency and accountability. Other agencies are developing sophisticated methods for investigation, crime solving and prevention. Police departments, in particular, have an opportunity to better educate their communities about who they are and what they do and to therefore increase and improve communication with the public they serve. LAwS Communications properties include The SMILE (Social Media the Internet and Law Enforcement) Conference, the internationally known blog ConnectedCOPS.net, and the C.O.P.P.S. Social Media Method. (Source) Or, perhaps you disagree. Do you feel that police monitoring of social media, as well as providing their own media operations will increase transparency and accountability? Will crimes be prevented and make us safer? Please leave your comments below. Read other articles by Joe Wright HERE linkwithin_text=Related Articles: 