Men in UK arrested for inciting riots via Facebook

Two men in the United Kingdom were arrested and sentenced to four years on grounds of attempting to incite violence via Facebook. The men were twenty year-old, Jordan Blackshaw and twenty-two year-old Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan; they were sentenced at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday. This is following the riots in the UK, as well as potential talks to ban Facebook temporarily in the country. The men reportedly created an event entitled 'Smash Down Northwich Town', as well as set up a page to encourage rioting in Warrington. Both these efforts, however created actual riot situations. 

Jordan Blackshaw, left, and Perry Sutcliffe-Keenan, right.

“The sentences passed down today recognize how technology can be abused to incite criminal activity, and send a strong message to potential troublemakers about the extent to which ordinary people value safety and order in their lives and their communities,” Assistant Chief Constable Phil Thompson said. “Anyone who seeks to undermine that will face the full force of the law.”

Following the London riots, about 3,000 people have been arrested and 1,200 people have appeared in court. Sentences have been very strict, for example, a woman is facing five months for wearing a pair of short that her roommate stole. With talks happening soon between Home Secretary, Theresa May and representatives from RIM and Facebook, as well as courts staying open late and handing out harsh sentences back-to-back, the UK might face some disconnection for a while from the world of social networking.