December 28, 2010 Tim Dees Police Tech & Gear with Tim Dees Rioters using Google Maps for real-time information Some professional protesters may have better and fresher intel than the police
For some, anarchy is a full-time job. The nature or cause of the event is a far secondary issue to the opportunity to disrupt peoples lives, destroy property, and flip the bird at authority. These folks devote their talents to devising new ways of creating quickly-constructed blockades of streets and buildings, improvising protective gear, and manufacturing weapons to use against riot police. Organizations such as the Direct Action Network, which played a major role in the 1999 Battle in Seattle riots, provide instrumentality for the riot-inclined. Fortunately, anarchists dont organize well (imagine that), so the networks come and go. Google Maps can be shown as street maps, satellite photos, or both, with the street data laid over the photo. These screen captures show photo detail of the riot maps devised by organizers of the tuition increase protests in London in early December 2010. Related Article: Investigating with Google Maps Related content sponsored by: These professional anarchists travel the globe to lend their skills at whatever demonstration might be handy, ranging from World Trade Organization meetings to student protests like London is experiencing. Like most other major cities, London has its share of organized protest demonstrations from time to time. Most recently, the Metropolitan Police contended with multiple incidents centered on the news that tuition at public universities was being increased substantially. The latest protests may have been the first instance of social networking used not just to organize the protests, but also to monitor activity in real time and subvert police efforts to keep the peace. In December 2010, protest organizers used custom Google Maps to track police movements and rally points, updating the maps in real time with wireless Internet connections. The updaters even created custom icons to represent police, aircraft, and prisoner transport vans. Google Maps can be shared between designated users or made public, so anyone who knows where to look can see it. The maps for this event were public, and presumably the links to them were disseminated to other protest information sources. Historically, police have had the upper hand in tactical information during public order events. Radio networks of officers posted at observation points, possibly coupled with closed-circuit television images, keep command post personnel apprised of whats happening and where. Keeping that information current is absolutely critical for effective management of the situation. Without it, personnel and equipment wont be where its most needed. The proliferation of highly capable handheld smartphones now makes it easy for protest organizers to communicate by voice, text and images, even with real-time video. The protesters may have more watchers and observation points than the police, and actually outpace the police in quantity and quality of intelligence. Having this kind of information available has made it possible for disrupters to create decoy incidents to draw resources away from where they are needed most. An observation point may report that people are assembling a protest tripod to block an intersection at X and Y streets. These tripods are made of three tall poles, lashed together at one end with a protester dangling from the junction. They take up a lot of room and are difficult to dismantle quickly without injuring the protester. Meanwhile, there is a less obvious gathering of people in another location who intend to break out windows and tip over cars on a street as soon as forces are marshaled to intercept the tripod crew. Having a real-time map, complete with satellite photos, of where everyone is at any one moment is almost as good as having your own helicopter overhead maybe better, if you can distract the crew of the helicopter. First Amendment and net neutrality issues being what they are, there isnt much law enforcement can do to keep protest organizers from using these resources. What you can do is know that your opposition has access to this kind and quality of information, and not to underestimate them or their capability. Managing large-scale public order incidents is a science, and its possible to leverage a relatively small force to be effective against a large gathering. If you anticipate the possibility of a protest or other anarchist demonstration in your community, prepare now. The protesters are preparing already. About the author Tim Dees is a writer, editor, trainer, and former law enforcement officer. After 15 years as a police officer with the Reno Police Department and elsewhere in Northern Nevada, Tim taught criminal justice as a full-time professor and instructor at colleges in Wisconsin, West Virginia, Georgia, and Oregon. He was also a regional training coordinator for the Oregon Dept. of Public Safety Standards & Training, providing in-service training to 65 criminal justice agencies in central and eastern Oregon. Tim has written more than 300 articles for nearly every national law enforcement publication in the United Sttes. In 2005, Tim became the first editor-in-chief for Officer.com, moving to the same position for LawOfficer.com at the beginning of 2008. He now writes on applications of technology in law enforcement from his home in SE Washington state. Dees can be reached at <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]. 6 Member Comments The comments below are member-generated and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of PoliceOne or its staff. Page 1 Posted by jcboston69 on Thursday, December 30, 2010 08:11 AM Pacific Ahh...I guess I didn't read it closely enough. Thanks for the correction. Posted by lumpy193 on Thursday, December 30, 2010 05:56 AM Pacific JC, the map is not being updated by google. The maps are being updated by an individual who is overlaying icons showing the location of persons, objects, etc. In the case of this article, the rioters are placing icons representing the police on a google map, then sending their "updated" google map to the other ner-do-wells. Posted by jcboston69 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 12:33 AM Pacific Last time I checked, google maps was not updated in real time. Posted by uso131 on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 11:08 AM Pacific mrbates - your IT people can show you how and I wonder why you ask it here?? I will say this.. There are protocols in place that in an "emergency" that all cell communications are "locked out" and can only be used by Law Enforcement; FEMA, etc... My opinion; BUT... I see way too many Law Enforcement departments getting rid of their own com networks and using "Cellular" push to talk networks for their traffic...NOT GOOD... How many times have cell networks gone down due to natural disasters and power outages? I have seen it.. My Department uses their own radio and data network using their own towers.. There is one well know group called the "RUKUS Group" that do go around and participate in riots. It is not very hard to use cell "jammers" to blank an area. Same goes for WiFi networks also.. Posted by ghostvet on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 07:45 PM Pacific A- Leave the damned protestors hanging from their tripods... 2- I would love to see what these counter-intelligence google maps look like... Posted by mrbates on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 07:10 PM Pacific I have read numerous articles pertaining to the use of smart phones for up-to-date photos on google maps and other media. To date I have not been able to understand or see how they are doing it so that I can show team members and use that technology for our transports. Does anyone have any helpful ideas? 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