I found this weeks article on Wired. This article is a few months old, but with the new information on Gadhafi's death, I thought it was a very interesting one. The social networking tool, Twitter is not only being used by celebrities; NATO is also using Twitter. According to this article, NATO would look at Tweets that pertained to information about Gadhafi's location and troop movement. These tweets helped determine targets and with sate lights and surveillance planes; NATO has been able to locate some of the Gadhafi's men. According to this article, Twitter cannot be used as an actual "targeting mechanism" but has become useful in narrowing down target locations. I had no idea that Twitter was being used in this way. I have become aware that social networking sites like Facebook have become a huge way for people to stay connected to a cause they are fighting for and it has helped organize movements in the Middle East and other parts of the world; but I did not know that a site like Twitter is being used by the government to hunt people down.
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/06/natos-newest-bombing-tool-twitter/
I think it is easy for people to underestimate the power of social networking skills, and this article highlights their advanced technologies. I had heard that government officials were using Twitter for surveillance however I had no idea the level they were using it. It should also highlight for citizens, people like you and me, that strangers can also track our own movements. A friend of mine tweeted the other day that he was on his way out of town with his roommates; it would only take any opportunist that knows where he lives to break into their house knowing noone would be home to catch them. While this is a very basic example compared to this article it is important for all users of social networks to understand their vulnerabilities when sharing information online.
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