MI5 enlisted to track down social media riot ringleaders
MI5 have been asked to assist the police in cracking encrypted messages sent via social messaging sites as the government pulls out all the stops to round up everyone involved in the mayhem.
They will assist police in deciphering messages sent by gang leaders on BlackBerry mobile phones, which are protected by a high level encryption system.
In a significant change in policy the organisation, alongside intelligence gathering agency GCHQ, will also be tasked with monitoring social networking sites in an effort to get ahead of the curve on any future disturbances.
This will give authorities the ability to intercept audio and BlackBerry Messenger communications – and identify the senders with the assistance of mobile operators and ISPs.
BlackBerry’s Messenger service is free and instant and had allowed criminals to send secure messages to groups of like-minded individuals to incite widespread violence – although BlackBerry have now pledged to disclose the names, contacts and times of prominent users in certain places at particular times.