Social media: Basis for new criminal activity, or outlet for old?

Recently, there has been an upsurge of social media fueled uprisings across the globe.  Depending on your perspective, they are either good (presumably the “Arab Spring”) or bad (the flash mob riots sweeping this and other countries).

Given the recent senseless,”flash mob” violence mentioned by Jim on the show, you have to ask: how far removed are we from A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess (movie by Stanley Kubrick)?  Are these just disaffected youths or something more sinister?

Consider this: remember the “demonstrations” (read it: riots) against the various G8/20 and World Trade meetings, such as in Toronto last year?  Or a couple of years ago in London?  If you listen, you will find that these protest/riots were organized by leftist groups, and anarchist groups organized by various socialist groups such as the Workers World Party and the Socialist Party.

Given the anarchist tendencies of these groups, is it not entirely implausible that they will use social media to motivate and enrage the “useful idiots” that the liberal government of Britain have generated?  How do you know who is sending out the call to violence in the streets of London.  Who is organizing (community organizing?) the flash mob riots in this country?  Does anyone know?  Can anyone find out?

Recent articles in several British publications, as well as PM Cameron, blame the various types of social media (Facebook, Twitter, BlackBerry Messenger or BBW), for allowing the hoodlums to coordinate their activities, report the locations of the police and arrange distractions, something the owners of the social media outlets are fighting tooth and nail (remember that the founder of Facebook is a big Øbama supporter  and social media was a big factor in Øbama’s fundraising and election).  A rather large question that looms is this: will the same lefties that will defend the First Amendment free speech aspect of social media in the face of a shutdown be as quick to defend the Second Amendment rights of gun owners?  They are both tools that can be used for good or abused for evil, but the former is loved by the left and the latter is despised, so we know how the media and the Democrats will view this.

As an interesting and related aside: Remember the Los Angeles riots where South Korean businessmen successfully defended their livelihood with pistols and shotguns, while pictures of business owners in a disarmed England show them standing in front of looted and burned establishments?  Britons can’t do this as they have been completely neutered, ownership of guns for personal defense being forbidden in Great Britain.  Note the rapid rise of community vigilante groups to resist the riots the police can’t or won’t put down.  Also note the rise in sales of baseball bats.  Think American baseball has gained sudden popularity in Great Britain?  If so, I have some Arizona oceanfront property for sale at a great price!

It is one thing to express your opinion online, but another thing entirely to use the media for criminal intent.  Will liberals be able to differentiate the two?