Fail: Police Dept Plans to Live-Tweet Prostitution Sting, Backlash Ensues
In this chatter-filled world of social media, how does one reach out to the community in a tangible yet relevant way? The Prince George’s County Police Department of Maryland has an Internet 2.0 solution: Next week, they’re going to live-tweet a prostitution sting and people can follow it using the hashtag #PGPDVICE!
Wait, WHAT THE HELL.
Let’s walk through this again, courtesy of WTOP, to make sure this does not sound as terrible as it seems: Sometime next week, in order to discourage prostitution, the department’s Vice Unit will live-tweet a prostitution sting as it happens, with updates on the people they’re arresting, as well as photos of suspects and their background information. “We’re using this progressive, and what we believe unprecedented, social media tactic to warn any potential participants that this type of criminal behavior is not welcome in Prince George’s County,” said the department in a news release.
Yep, this still sounds horrible (and really not that progressive). We also love how the police department’s representatives are promoting this hashtag bust like it’s a Twitter Thanksgiving hotline with Martha Stewart. And by “love,” we mean “completely icked out”:
Wont say when, where, how but #PGPDVice will be tweeting live during prostitution sting! Follow @PGPDNews
— Irene Burks (@MajorBurks) May 1, 2014
The world reacted accordingly, with women’s rights advocates worried that the sting would endanger the lives of the sex workers. “”If they are in a trafficking or abusive situation, posting their picture on the Internet isn’t doing anything to help that situation,” said Cyndee Clay, the director of HIPS, an organization providing resources to people “impacted by sexual exchange and/or drug use due to choice, coercion, or circumstance.”
“You’re also potentially outing these people to their friends, family and to their neighbors,” she added. “This puts them at increased risk of violence or isolation.”
The rest of the world recoiled:
Just catching up on the #PGPDVice vileness. Cops relishing the arrest and public shaming of a vulnerable population harming no one. Sickened
— Charlotte Shane (@CharlotteNB) May 1, 2014
If #PGPDVice is "targeting the johns" @PGPDJulie why is your photo of a woman in handcuffs? http://t.co/f4T9Krb6ay
— Melissa Gira Grant (@melissagira) May 1, 2014
I can only assume/hope that #PGPDVice will have similar success, as a PR move, as #myNYPD did. Everything about it is set up to fail.
— Phil Butcher (@xeronius) May 1, 2014
Again, the hashtag is #PGPDVice. Go nuts with it.
[WTOP.com]
[Image via Prince George’s County]
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