The terrorist attacks in Mumbai are the most popular topic on Twitter since they started. Every second some tweets about the attacks are posted. But according to The Times Indian authorities asked Twitter users to stop tweeting about the attacks for security reasons. Although the newspaper says it can’t confirm the rumour that Indian authorities want Twitter users to stop tweeting, The Times refers to a tweet saying: “Police reckon tweeters giving away strategic info to terrorists via Twitter”. The newspaper doesn’t link to the exact tweet but I think this is the one:
I would think that nothing on twitter hasn’t already been published on the news…
I don’t think this is true, actually. I highly doubt it. From what I heard on Indian tv channels last night is that the media was being asked to not update on the military operation at the hotels. Moments after that was being reported on tv, a Twitter user kept repeating that he would no longer update on the military operations because of the request, and he also asked people to spread it, “retweet”. So I think this is the source for this rumor.
I mean, like the terrorists are watching Twitter.. almost all the information on Twitter is from local and international tv reports so there is no real use to that. Indian tv channels, however, did say they suspected terrorists were getting information from tv reports.
One of them was http://twitter.com/BreakingNewz/status/1025957968 , couldn’t find better links right now.
I totally agree with you, David. Asking Twitter users to stop tweeting about the attacks doesn’t make sense. That is also why I’m still wondering why The Times reported this rumour…
I think this is complete nonsense.
If the authorities think strategic information is being channelled through twitter, I have a simple solution: DO NOT GIVE AWAY strategic information, and keep EVERYONE out of sight of any engagements or deployment of forces. However, I saw TV footage and stills of an NGS sniper positioned across from one building, clearly identifying his position by showing his field of fire from cameras clearly right next to him. Unless it was a double bluff, I was amazed at the stupidity of allowing access to create and broadcast such images – you may as well paint a target on your chest, wave a big flag and shout ‘here I am’.
Terrorists will be using long and short wave radio, mobile phones, IM, twitter and SMS at the very minimum, and I would be amazed given the highly organised and coordinated nature of these attacks, if they don’t have local ‘spotters’ feeding them information from TV and Radio, Police and Military wavelengths via all of these mechanisms, as well being in positions to overlook the locations they were attacking. It’s a fact that at least one police vehicle, with radio, was hijacked.
You’d need to stop use of still and TV cameras, stop all radio broadcasts, jam all radio and TV signals, shut down cellular masts, ensure all wifi networks are offline, stop all instant messenger programs, all VOIP, take away everyones’ mobile phones, swap to secret new frequencies for police and army communications… you get the picture.
I’ve reason to believe that this is a rumor. The authorities would probably have had larger issues to deal with right then rather than who was tweeting from where. And these attackers.. I do doubt that, while they’re holding hostages at gunpoint, they had their cell phones out in one hand, reading the latest Twitter updates. Although I can see how Twitter may have been a security issue with the dreadful scenario the people were placed in, let’s face it… Twitter hasn’t really gone mainstream yet. Only a handful of early adopters and the like were probably tweeting, and although that handful broke through and got the news of the attacks out sooner than some major news hubs, I doubt that terrorists repeatedly checked Twitter. IMO, major media corps are more likely to check Twitter and the likes to get leads on breaking news. Although I respect others’ opinions, that’s just my two cents.
HOWEVER, it could be quite possible if these attacks were planned with immaculate detail.
So the Terrorists are relying on Twitter for their information? A service that’s renowned for downtime, and is chock full of misleading information from mostly uninformed people?
What a load of crap.
Cheers :)
I wouldn’t know. I think Twitter is quite ahead of the news most of the time. But authorities probably can ‘control’ the media much easier then they can control Twitter users…
Thanks for this super comment, Micheal! Do you have some links (to the tweets you mention for example) so I can add it to my post?
Thanks again! Comments like this really add extra value to this post.