TWITTER BEING USED FOR SECURITY

By D.E.Levine

Twitter, a free social networking and micro-blogging service that is enables users to send and receive tweets (messages) has become increasingly popular for advertising businesses and providing customer service assistance.

Now, numerous law enforcement agencies across the nation are using Twitter to convey crime alerts, Amber alerts and emergencies. Some also receive messages from the public as replies.

Tweets are up to 140 characters displayed on the author's profile page and delivered to followers or subscribers of the author. Access can be open or can be restricted to a specific list of followers. Law enforcement agencies use both, using a restricted circle of followers for confidential information and a broad circle of followers for the public.