01/10/2022
Online sleuths track down Jan. 6 insurrectionists
A year after the U.S. Capitol insurrection, a community of mostly faceless online sleuths has been poring over images and videos mined from social media. Their mission is to identify rioters and give the information to authorities. So far, more than 725 people have been arrested, but the FBI still seeking more. The volunteer sleuths avoid publicity. "You will be targeted for attack if you are found to be one of the people helping the FBI arrest folks for January 6," one said.
■Class discussion: Are these volunteer sleuths doing the right thing by tracking down the Jan. 6 rioters? Why or why not? With so much video being recorded on security cameras and cell phones, is it easier to catch people who commit crimes? Have videos helped to find and arrest other protesters? How are videos used to convict people in court? Why did so many people who broke into the Capitol post incriminating pictures of themselves on social media? Did they believe they wouldn’t face any consequences?