Working title: “The Impact of Social Media on Criminal Investigations: An Ethical, Legal, and Practical Perspective.”
Law enforcement authorities are harnessing the potential social media platforms provide for use in criminal investigations in light of the general public’s widespread use. Social media may affect police investigations, but few studies have been conducted on their effects. Most current research focuses on its advantages and disadvantages for criminal investigations. Studies indicate that social media has provided law enforcement authorities with an efficient means to collect evidence quickly and identify suspects more accurately than ever. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter have proven invaluable for monitoring criminal activity, tracking witnesses or suspects down, gathering legal evidence quickly for proceedings, and collecting intelligence for legal proceedings. Unfortunately, however, using these platforms in criminal investigations presents several hurdles, including striking a balance between user privacy concerns and concerns over data misuse issues. Further investigation must occur to fully assess the extent of social media’s effect on criminal investigations. The study should focus on ethical considerations involved with using social media in criminal investigations, its efficiency in solving crimes, and the legal framework related to its use. Furthermore, more research must be conducted regarding social media platforms’ effects on individuals’ privacy rights and civil liberties.
Please include a Cover Page, an abstract and a list of references.
- Title page
- Abstract (100-120 words)
- Introduction
- Hypothesis/Problem Statement/Purpose Statement
- Literature Review and Definitions included in research
- Research methods/design
- References
- Appendices – as needed (annotated bibliography, example consent form, example survey if used)
Attached are some documents for reference including the bibliography and rubric