Alex Fitzpatrick2013-04-18 18:51:26 -0400Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Richard DesLauriers said during a press conference Thursday that the footage the FBI released showing its two suspects in the Boston bombing case is the only legitimate footage available.
"Other photos should not be deemed credible," he added.
DesLauriers's words were effectively aimed at Reddit and 4chan, where some users have been attempting to identify suspects in crowdsourced images and video. Reddit has since deleted its earlier efforts.
Their work was almost immediately criticized as a breach of privacy and due process, not to mention the overtones of racism and xenophobia. That criticism escalated after the New York Post gave the front page treatment to an image Reddit and 4chan users thought showed individuals involved in the attack.
"This is vigilantism, and it's only the illusion that what we do online is not as significant as what we do offline that allows this to go on," wrote The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal. "Imagine if people were standing around in Boston pointing fingers at people in photographs and (roughly) accusing them of terrorism."
Even before the FBI press conference, some Redditors began voicing doubts about the subreddit devoted to identifying suspects, r/FindBostonBombers. "LOL, everyone was 100% wrong," wrote one Redditor before deleting the comment. "I feel bad for Blue Robe Guy," wrote another, referring to the nickname Redditors gave to a man in the crowd that became one of their favorite suspects. "He looked like a dad waiting for his kid. Plus, he wasn't even wearing a robe."
Following DesLauriers' comments, a moderator of r/FindBostonBombers said "at this point in time the only photographs that are allowed to be posted in this subreddit are images that may contain the FBI's two suspects" and that "all others will be deleted."
Redditors have since concentrated their efforts on the FBI's footage, perhaps even determining the types of hats worn by the FBI's suspects.
What role should Reddit, 4chan and other social media users have in assisting the investigation, if any? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Image via Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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