Flash Mobs a Threat to Security?

RawCode writes "News about a recent report released by the RCMP suggests that flash mobs could pose a future threat to security. 'Some are aimed at celebrities. Tech-savvy teenaged girls in Britain can quickly spread the word on the whereabouts of Prince William, surrounding him with hundreds of screaming fans. Some are political, organizing protests. Text-messaging was instrumental to organizing public demonstrations in the Phillippines that forced President Joseph Estrada from office'."

RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[TheLoneDanger]

For those who don't know (and the article doesn't seem to explain), RCMP stands for Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Y'know the mounties, with the red uniforms. I believe they are roughly equivalent to the FBI, though I am sure someone else can explain exactly what their duties are.

Brush up your Niven....

[abb3w]

"Flash Crowd", 1973; collected in "The Flight of the Horse".
"The Last Days of the Permanent Floating Riot Club", 1974; collected in "A Hole in Space".

Unfortunately, the solution is going to have to be different. The stories make a starting point for thinking about the problem.

The same threat as cellular phones.

[www.sorehands.com]

If I A few years back at the Philadelphia RNC a person from 2600 [2600.com] was arrested [2600.com] for using a cellular phone to commit a crime. He was accused of using the phone to arrange a riot.

Of course, the entire case was eventually dismissed.

Re:Protecting those in power from the evil truth.

[R2.0]

You are aware that Canada doesn't have a president?

Re:RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Wybaar]

How about their mission, vision, and values [www.rcmp.ca]?

Re:RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[sunwukong]

Yup,

RCMP == FBI
CSIS == CIA
CSE == NSA

Roughly speaking of course -- the exact details are framed in their separate charters and, of course, the constitution differs between our two countries.

Re:RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[WormholeFiend]

The RCMP [rcmp-grc.gc.ca] enforces federal laws and statutes.

In provinces where there is no provincial police, it also enforces provincial laws and statutes, usually as a police force under contract with the provincial government.

Some cities and towns also contract the RCMP for municipal police services as well.

From their website: We provide a total federal policing service to all Canadians and policing services under contract to the three territories, eight provinces (except Ontario and Quebec), approximately 198 municipalities and, under 172 individual agreements, to 192 First Nations communities.

Also for those who don't know, "First Nations" refers to Native Americans.

Re:RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[Egonis]

CSIS (Canadian Secret Intelligence Service)
- Similar, if not equal to the CIA

RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Federal Police
- Similar, if not equal to FBI Duties

OPP (Ontario Provincial Police) Example
- Provincial Police
- Similar, if not equal to State Police

Municipal Police
- Obvious

Re:The quote is.....

[Pig Hogger]

That's not the one I'm thinking of, unfortunately (though it is another one I like). I'm quite certain the quote I have in mind does specifically reference the number of people 10 men can kill. It was bandied about plenty immediately after 9/11.

That's chickenshit compared to the number of people killed by the crew of Enola Gay [theenolagay.com]...

Re:Flash mobs work for freedom also

[Dyolf Knip]

Civil disobedience is a very good idea in principle, and with the right enemy it can work wonders. But the WTO arrests, the RNC arrests, the willingness to shut down airplanes and whole airports because someone finds a piece of paper with "BOB" written on it, the mass detention of muslims in LA a few years back, the indisputed fact that the US has _by far_ the highest incarceration rate in the world, it's all indicative of guys in charge not really giving a shit about public perception and being more concerned with CYA and maintaining their own jobs.

You are mistaken, "mob" can be "lookouts"

[AHumbleOpinion]

You are completely mistaken. Did you even read the summary? The summary, let alone TFA, explained how the "mob" can unintentionally locate high valued targets. That the person calling the mob to a location could inadvetantly be acting as a lookout. That the mob converging on the location could inadvertantly be acting as camoflauge for a terrorist. Things are far more complicated than your post suggests.

Re:RCMP = Royal Canadian Mounted Police

[kurokaze]

No they are not part of the Canadian Forces reserve. They do not fall under the QR&Os, CFAOs, DAODs or Code of Service Discipline.

They also cannot be summoned to war by order-in-council.

That website has it wrong.

Re:innate, perhaps

[jafiwam]

Wow, I'd love to have a link for that, might explain some of the folks infatuation with modern political figures too. Please post it if you have it.

Re:innate, perhaps

[Zeriel]

I wanna see a cite for this. It'd be interesting to read the methodology.

Re: cite please?

[MenTaLguY]

No cite, sadly -- I can't find the original (and more in-depth) article I had originally read on the web now -- but the researcher's name was Dr. Michael Platt, and the research in question is referenced in this NewsWeek article [msn.com] (halfway down, look for "berry berry"). I'm not sure if this was before or after he left the Glimcher Lab for Duke.

His lab page is here [duke.edu], but none of the paper titles ring a bell.

If you're interested, you should at least be able to reach him at: platt at neuro dot duke dot edu

Re: cite please?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5304846/site/newsweek/

Re:Learn how civil disobedience works

[Psyrg]

Although it sounds like a good idea to use ones self to clog the courts, have you considered what being a convicted criminal may mean?

As far as I understand the US political system, would you be willing to give up your right to vote ever again just to put a point accross? What about being able to travel overseas?