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Twitter is the new tool of terrorists. Or at least U.S. Army thinks it could become so, Wired reports. A document put together by the army's 304th Military Intelligence Battalion states the microblogging software could be used co-ordinate bombings or other types of attacks. The report focuses on some of the newer cellphone applications and services, such as GPS and maps programs. Based largely on information culled from postings on pro-terrorist websites, it looks at how these technologies how they could be used in terror strikes. For example, GPS camera phones may be used for "travel plans, surveillance and targeting." (Not to mention how they can be used to take nifty photos of a would-be suicide bomber's family.) Also, terrorists may use free voice-changing software in conjunction with Skype and I.D. spoofing for "calling in demands, interviews, and/or attack claims to media outlets." (And this is quite a development because otherwise terrorists would have to use external devices, such as wearing one of those voice-altering Dalek masks: "Exterminate all Western decadence!") But at the crux of the report is how terrorists can use these applications and services in mash-ups with Twitter to send info to each other. It suggests three scenarios: "Scenario 1: Terrorist operative 'A' uses Twitter with… a cell phone camera/video function to send back messages, and to receive messages, from the rest of his [group]... Other members of his [group] receive near real time updates (similar to the movement updates that were sent by activists at the RNC) on how, where, and the number of troops that are moving in order to conduct an ambush." "Scenario 2: Terrorist operative 'A' has a mobile phone for Tweet messaging and for taking images. Operative 'A' also has a separate mobile phone that is actually an explosive device and/or a suicide vest for remote detonation. Terrorist operative 'B' has the detonator and a mobile to view 'A's' Tweets and images. This may allow 'B' to select the precise moment of remote detonation based on near real time movement and imagery that is being sent by 'A.'" "Scenario 3: Cyber Terrorist operative 'A' finds U.S. [soldier] Smith’s Twitter account. Operative 'A' joins Smith’s Tweets and begins to elicit information from Smith. This information is then used for… identity theft, hacking, and/or physical [attacks]. This scenario… has already been discussed for other social networking sites, such as My Space and/or Face Book." (sic) It's to nice the U.S. is wasting money in this time of global economic crisis. I mean, here in Canada, we're just worried about al-Qaida friending us on Facebook, but the U.S. has them destroying the world with tweets. That's Terror 2.0 for you. What I think is hilarious is that the U.S. Army would actually think terror groups would use a service as insecure as Twitter to pass sensitive information around. I mean, I'm sure many terrorists have Smartphones and some probably even have social networking accounts. But they'd have to be pretty dumb to use them to plan terror attacks because it would be so easy to track. A new bug was recently discovered broke the protection of friends-only messages on Twitter's site. And that's just an programming error. Imagine what the U.S. government could do with the Patriot Act. I've seen TV cops use it all the time to get whatever they want. And even if the accounts aren't American, the company is based out of San Francisco. But I guess if the U.S. is worried about Twitter, the rest of the world has to be to. We should be thankful, Apple has yet to offer the iPhone in Afghanistan or Iraq, because then they could post videos, listen to iTunes and initiate car bombings with the simple glide of a finger.

 

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About G4 in Canada
G4 Canada (formerly TechTV Canada) launched in September 2001. G4 is the one and only television station that is plugged into every dimension of games, gear, gadgets and gigabytes. Owned Rogers Media Inc., the channel airs more than 24 original series. G4 is available on digital cable and satellite. For more information, see www.g4tv.ca.