British MP wants short ban on Twitter, Facebook

London, Aug 14: After the reports of

like Twitter and Facebook for spreading the recent London riots, a Conservative MP in Britain asked for a temporary shut down of social networking sites during civil unrest.

The Conservative MP for Corby and East Northampstonshire, Louise Mensch, said that social networking sites can be shut down during an emergency to meet the crisis. She also added that these sites are not important than train station, a road or a bus service as people never worry about police temporarily closing those.

"If short, necessary and only used in an emergency, so what. We'd all survive if Twitter shut down for a short while during major riots," Mensch said.

"Common sense. If riot info and fear is spreading by Facebook and Twitter, shut them off for an hour or two, then restore. World won't implode." she added.

Interestingly, she conveyed her opinion through her Twitter account!

Security authorities reported during the riots that rioters were organising attacks against police and looting through Twitter and Facebook and by sending encrypted mails using their BlackBerry smartphones.

OneIndia News