That Facebook ‘Friend’ May Be a Cop

Yet another reason to be wary about interacting with unknown individuals on the Internet: A growing number of police departments and prosecutors are finding social networking sites a treasure trove for evidentiary purposes.

Some are seeking messages between individuals; in rape cases where consent is asserted as a defense, for instance, messages sent between the defendant and his alleged victim can be relevant. Other law enforcement officials, however, are proactively seeking information about crimes by posting fictitious profiles on sites such as Facebook and MySpace, reports the Boston Globe.

Unlike a wiretap, posing as someone else in order to investigate a case doesn't require a warrant, says Police Chief Edward Denmark of Harvard, Mass. The chief recently used a profile photo picturing a 1970s singer decked out in a an Afro, sideburns and flashy jewelry, although he says he changes the photo daily.

However, critics contend that the practice violates Facebook terms of use and is at least ethically questionable.

Some police departments are more attuned to Internet evidence-gathering than others. Globe inquiries about whether law enforcement agencies in Massachusetts and New Hampshire towns near Harvard were using Facebook elicited puzzled questions from a lieutenant and a dispatcher about "Spacebook" and "Safebook."