London, Aug 11: Britain is likely to assume powers to intercept messages through social media such as Blackberry Messenger, Facebook and Twitter during times of crisis so that such messages are disrupted.
 Setting out measures to prevent the kind of disturbances London and other cities witnessed, Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons that people were struck by the ways in which coordinated rioting was organised.
 Much of the recent violence in London and other cities had been coordinated through social media, according to police.
 "(Everyone) everyone watching these horrific actions will be stuck by how they were organised via social media.
 "Free flow of information can be used for good. But it can also be used for ill. And when people are using social media for violence we need to stop them," Cameron said.
 He added: "So we are working with the Police, the intelligence services and industry to look at whether it would be right to stop people communicating via these websites and services when we know they are plotting violence, disorder and criminality".
 The government, he said, had asked the police if they need any other new powers. He announced that the government will give the police the discretion to remove face coverings under any circumstances where there is reasonable suspicion that they are related to criminal activity.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 11 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST