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More than two-thirds of adults support the shutdown of social networks during periods of social
unrest such as the riots (暴乱) in England this summer, new research has shown.
A survey of 973 adults carried out for the online security firm Unisys found 70% of adults supported
the shutdown of Twitter, Facebook and BlackBerry Messenger (BBM), while only 27% disagreed.
Three-quarters agreed that governments should have open access to data on social network users in
order to prevent relevant (相应的) crime. Support for action against social networks was strongest
among over-65s and weakest among 18 to 24-year-olds, who are the heaviest users of the online
services.
Several people were accused of attempting to start disturbances (骚动) using Facebook during the
outbreak of rioting across England in August. The court recently refused a request o lower the sentences
of two people sent to prison for four years for attempting to arrange riots on the social media site, despite
them not leading to any disturbances.
Analysis by the Guardian found little evidence to support claims the network had been used to set
off unrest. However, the BBM network was believed to have played a role in organizing disturbances.
It's very worrying that people would believe shutting down social networks would be worth. The vast
majority of social network use during the unrest was people spreading information and helping each other
get home safely. These kinds of actions would weaken the UK's position against authoritarian regimes (独裁 * * ). As we live more of our lives online, people should be conscious of the amount of power they're probably handing over to government.
Jonathan Polanyi, a lawyer in criminal law and member of the Bar Council's IT Committee, said
developments across 2011 suggested the UK's legal system was failing to keep pace with technological
change.
"We've seen discussions about libel (诽谤) and super-forbidden on Twitter; the use of social
networking to coordinate civil unrest in UK cities and a series of high profile attacks on well-known
companies which have led to loss of data," he said. "It is important that the law quickly develops to deal
with issues related to new technology."
1. Which of the following person probably most agree with against social networks?
A. A girl aged 10.
B. An 18-year-old boy.
C. A young woman of 24.
D. An old man of 66.
2. Two people were sentenced to prison for four years because they .
A. were against the social networks
B. attempted to plan riots on the social media site
C. led to some disturbance to the social media site
D. started disturbances using Facebook and Twitter
3. What is analyzed by the Guardian proved that .
A. the network had nothing to do with unrest
B. the BBM network organized disturbances
C. shutting down social networks would be desirable
D. 70% of adults supported the shutdown of the network
4. What can be inferred from the last two paragraphs?
A. The UK's legal system should be changed completely.
B. The law associated with new technology should be progressed.
C. Twitter has led to loss of data and should be accused.
D. Some well-known companies were attacked by Twitter.
