Thursday, November 8, 2012

Google vs Drug trafficking



It is a well know channel to sources of information around the world. It is what we use most in our day-to-day life. It is a tool for the easy access to contact and information. I’m talking about internet. But, despite its multiple applications, it is still full with trashy information that is not worth searching for; however, it can be used by the people for the people.

People face many problems every day, from the bill we all have to pay to some hard times we face at work, but there is a problem that is affecting everyone’s life in the United States, and more specifically, in Latin countries such as Mexico or Cuba. I’d like to refer to Drug trafficking.

According to Victor Hugo Michel, website Nuestraaparaterendicion.com journalist, Drug trafficking is a phenomenon that has, so far, taken the lives of 24.102 people. Those people were in Cartels (Criminals groups dedicated to commercialize with illegal stuff), and these groups are often involved in skirmishes with other Cartels, being hitmen killing members of enemy criminal factions as a result. Such amount of dead people does not include the figures of the most violent cities in Mexico, such as Guerrero or Michoacán.

What are authorities doing? Nothing that could qualify as useful, but the work titled Knowing where and How Criminal Organizations Operate Using Web Content by the researchers Viridiana Rios (Mexican) and Michele Coscia (Italian), proves that Internet (Google) can also be a great tool for investigation and the tracking of criminal organizations. That report shows the big scale gathering of information, which being relied only upon the effort of police or authorities wouldn’t be enough; on the contrary, are people who give information and several online papers re being used as sources of information too.

Is there any media Coverage? Yes, there is. The work of the previously mentioned researchers is based on statistics and data collected and given through internet channels of information.

So, do you think mass media helps? Would you help organizations with anti-criminal orientation to develop their work?

Works cited




2 comments:

  1. I agree with you that Internet is a channel in which drug dealers can offer their product in a easier way. As you mention before, Cartels are really very organized criminal grups, that could be very interesting in use Google to deliver their merchandise; but, would I help anti-criminal organizations to find these criminal groups?
    I am not really sure about that. Knowing how organized and dangerous these groups are, I would be very worried about my family and friends' safety; but definetely I would help if there would be a program or system that give me the security that my family, friends and I would be safe.

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  2. I really do think that there is a big chance for a crminal to be found thanks to the action of people, especially a criminal who is given to the police by neighbors. People, as long as they are united, can do whatever for what they need. If the person results to be insecure about the safety of their family or just shy, they can send anonymous messages or red alerts, or call 911. Internet is a place where identities become vague, and in this cse this results useful for those who want to protect their beloved ones without any payback from criminals.

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