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The head of the FBI believes that a spike in violent crime in many cities may be due to officers' fears of showing up on Internet videos confronting suspects.
FBI Director James Comey told reporters Wednesday that a "viral video effect" is leading to less aggressive policing that "could well be at the heart" of an alarming increase in murders in many cities, according to an account recorded by the New York Times.
"There's a perception that police are less likely to do the marginal additional policing that suppresses crime -- the getting out of your car at 2 in the morning and saying to a group of guys, 'Hey, what are you doing here?'" he told reporters.
Comey's remarks came after he was briefed on rising crime rates in more than 40 cities during the first quarter of 2016. The director did not reveal specific statistics, and the FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
James Comey, welcome to the panopticon you dragged the rest of us into. It's rather a double-edged sword, isn't it?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Thexalon on Friday May 13 2016, @11:41AM
There are all sorts of problem with his argument:
1. All available public data says that the last few years have been the lowest crime rates we've seen in approximately 50 years, as crime has dropped about 20% in the last decade and about 40-50% in the last 25 years. If you're going to make policy based on an alleged spike in crime, the first thing you have to do is demonstrate a spike in crime, and he's utterly failed to do that.
2. The idea that an officer should approach a group of people at 2 AM and say "What are you doing here?" is simply the wrong approach, because (a) there are perfectly legitimate reasons for a group of people to be hanging out at 2 AM, and (b) walking into a group, alone, sounding suspicious, is a recipe for violent confrontation if these guys really are bad guys. If an officer approaches a group of people at 2 AM, the question shouldn't be "What are you doing here?" but "Hi, how are you? Everything OK?" all friendly-like, and then the officer accepts an answer of "Yup, we're all just fine here." and continues on his way. That presents the police as looking out for the people who odds are is a bunch of law-abiding people enjoying themselves outside after the bars close.
3. He assumes that all the videos of police that go viral will be videos of bad stuff they've done. My suspicion is that videos of everyday police work would also show many officers behaving downright heroicly to save lives and prevent bad guys from getting away with their crimes. In fact, I'll bet you could make a TV [wikipedia.org] shows [wikipedia.org] showing the police doing their job well that would get enough public support to be worth keeping on the air.
4. He believes that if ordinary citizens have nothing to hide, they have nothing to fear from surveillance. Well, that's true of cops too, and unlike ordinary citizens, cops who are working are public officials acting in their official capacity and thus have no right to nor expectation of privacy whatsoever.
"Think of how stupid the average person is. Then realize half of 'em are stupider than that." - George Carlin
(Score: 3, Interesting) by TheGratefulNet on Friday May 13 2016, @01:38PM
comey does not represent the will of the people or the best interests of the same.
he should be removed from office immediately.
after that, stripped of all govt perks.
after that, taken to court and sued for crimes against america. ie, he's a textbook case of what traitor really is. he has sold us out to foreign interests whether he planned to or not, by doing ALL HE CAN to weaken citizens' security. he actively works against the true interests of his country.
in the wild wild west, I dare say what would have happened to such a man who showed such contempt for his fellow citizens. I doubt he would enjoy a wild west justice, but I can certainly dream, can't I?
"It is now safe to switch off your computer."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 13 2016, @10:13PM
He seems like a nice guy. Why you hate him?
Wouldn't you hate any FBI director?
(Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday May 14 2016, @07:19PM
Probably. The FBI has been immensely corrupt since it was created, and certainly hasn't changed. J. Edgar Hoover, anyone? Also, it routinely violates the 4th amendment by conducting invasive warrantless searches, uses pseudoscience to gather faulty evidence to help convict people, tries to destroy encryption, goads crazy people into trying to carry out some terrorist attack and then catches them so they can pretend as if they're effective at stopping terrorism, etc. It's a really shady organization.