Everything is hunky-spunky in Los Angeles – the City of Angels, La-La Land, just an all-around swell place to live:
The Los Angeles police department (LAPD) has directed its officers to collect the social media information of every civilian they interview, including individuals who are not arrested or accused of a crime, according to records shared with the Guardian.
Copies of the "field interview cards" that police complete when they question civilians reveal that LAPD officers are instructed to record a civilian's Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and other social media accounts, alongside basic biographical information. An internal memo further shows that the police chief, Michel Moore, told employees that it was critical to collect the data for use in "investigations, arrests, and prosecutions", and warned that supervisors would review cards to ensure they were complete.
Here's what the cards look like:
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Hoo boy. Maybe I shouldn't have uploaded my entire life onto an easily accessible, traceable, recordable Internet website."
And you know what, you're right! That was not the best move you could've made, for a variety of reasons.
At the very least, though, all the information the LAPD gathers on residents has to be making the city a much better and safer place, right?
Ah. Okay.
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