An Ovation for the NYPD

I haven't commented on the uproar surrounding revelations that the NYPD was using 21st Century methods to prevent terror.  I am referring to its using the Internet to look at Muslim related websites in order to see what's happening out there.

Politicians in NJ are tripping over each other to run to the microphone in order to condemn the NYPD for spying.  Why NJ you may ask?  How about it being a breeding ground the radical Muslims who bombed the World Trade Center in 1993?

The way I see it, most websites are open to the public and anyone, and I mean anyone, can view them or even sign up for those that require registration.  There should be no expectation of privacy on posts to the Web.

You may say this is trite, but if you use the Internet, you should expect others to read what you post.  And if it's hostile and threatening, you should expect that someone is going to look further.

In any event, here's an editorial from the New York Sun addressing the issue.
An Ovation for the NYPD

What do you think?

Stephen M. Flatow alisa flatow

Getting the Word Out -- Each Person's Role in the Fight Against Terror

One thing that is hated absolutely by terrorists and their sponsors is the TRUTH. The goal of any article about terror should be to expose the dirty laundry of the terrorists and their sponsors. One of the disappointments arising out of the quick ending to our family's case against the Iranian government was our inability to air Iran's dirty laundry in public. I believed then, as I do now, that the seamy underside of terror's sponsors is worthy of a good dose of sunlight.

Alex Margolin brings a perspective to this battle in a column appearing in the Jerusalem Post.
His points:

• Israel's much-maligned public relations effort got a big boost from the media in recent weeks.
• In parallel, on-line activists launched private efforts.

With all this activity, it's tempting to believe that government officials and organized activists have the situation covered. In reality, however, these efforts only address half the equation. The second half belongs to the public. Because of the "social" nature of today's Internet - where content is increasingly generated by users, not the sites themselves - quality content is not enough. It is also vital to maximize the quantity of people spreading Israel's message.

In other words, state agencies can do great work providing videos, images and information and activists can organize the material and create channels for public participation, but success in the media war will largely be determined by what the masses of supporters do with the information.

Margolin briefly traces the changes in media communication via the Internet from a one way street traveled by media sources to a two-way street where reader can add her opinion. He give several examples of this phenomenon and how it works for the better rather than the worst.

So, start that blog, reply to that column.