Police in the age of social media: This is how it deals with crimes

Police in the age of social media: This is how it deals with crimes

In today's digital era, social media are omnipresent and shape our daily life. They not only offer platforms for communication and exchange information, but can also become important in legal cases. A current topic that is discussed in this context affects the role of the police when crimes are published on social networks.

An example illustrates this problem: someone invites a video to be seen in the consumption of drugs - a clear violation of the law, since drug use is illegal. This incident, an "official offense" in technical jargon, not only has everyday suitability, but also legal implications for the police.

always on duty, also online

The challenge for police officers is that in such cases they are "almost always on duty". Marina Fürstauer, police spokeswoman, explains that every civil servant who sees such a video is obliged to report the incident. Outside of the regular service, the police also have responsibility to pursue illegal activities. The present evidence, be it in the form of a video or a photo, is crucial for the introduction of investigations.

Fürstauer emphasizes that the type of evidence survey is important. If a video documents drug use, it can be assumed that the white powder is a controlled substance like cocaine. Therefore, it becomes a duty for police officers to store digital evidence or to make screenshots in order to initiate the necessary investigations.

Investigations and responsibilities

Another aspect is the investigation that needs to be carried out. If the crime takes place in a certain geographical area, such as Feldkirch, and this is clearly recognizable in the video, the police there will take over the investigations. Otherwise, the IT department of the State Police Directorate is asked to determine who uploaded the video and at what point in time this happened.

The topic remains up to date and raises questions about how the police deal with the possibilities and the challenges of social media. The legal framework is clear and the police have the task of pursuing such incidents. Whether when operating in service or in digital space, the duties remain.

These explanations offer an interesting insight into the dynamic relationship between social media and the police. It is an area that is still in focus and is of great interest in society. If you would like to learn more about the legal implications and the processes, you can here more information .