Social media monitored more by law enforcement

In New York, police are poring through Facebook updates as if they were lineup photos. In Great Britain, authorities are posting Twitter tweets to round up rioters. And in California, prison officials are on the lookout for inmates visiting social networks from their cells. This week's headlines highlight how law enforcement agencies around the world are increasingly monitoring popular social networks like Facebook and Twitter to root out criminal behavior. It's not quite "Big Brother." It's more like "Big Friend." And it's a trend that has civil libertarians concerned. "Something you post even in jest could have deep ramifications for your life," said Rainey Reitman, activism director for the Electronic Frontier Foundation.