Policing the Public Square in the Digital Age: Maintaining Order in a Digital World
Nightsticks, protective shields, and bullhorns were once the defining tools public order policing. Today, officers confront a deluge of smartphones, navigating a complex information landscape where a single live stream can ignite a national debate and a fabricated social media post can turn a peaceful protest into a violent clash. The information age has irrevocably transformed the way the police maintain order and safety during public demonstrations, demanding a new set of skills and strategies from leaders and officers on the ground.
This digital revolution presents both opportunities and challenges for public order policing. Social media platforms empower citizens to document and share events in real time, fostering transparency and accountability for law enforcement. However, the same technology can be a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation, potentially escalating tensions and eroding public trust.
One of the most pressing challenges in this new landscape is the pervasive nature of disinformation. Fabricated stories about police actions or protest motivations can spread like wildfire on social media, creating a dangerous "fog of war" where both officers and protestors operate on incomplete or inaccurate information. A viral video of an officer using force, taken out of context, can ignite public outrage and make de-escalation efforts considerably more difficult.
To combat this challenge, policing needs to develop strategies for real-time fact-checking. Partnerships with established fact-checking organizations, such as Snopes or PolitiFact, can provide valuable resources for officers during protests. Additionally, proactive social media engagement can help debunk false narratives before they take root. Designated social media teams can utilize official department accounts to provide clear and accurate information about planned operations, respond to rumors with verified facts, and highlight positive interactions with protestors. This two-pronged approach, utilizing external fact-checkers and proactive internal communication, helps ensure the public has access to accurate information and reduces the potential for misinformation or disinformation to fuel unrest.
Social media also empowers protest movements, enabling them to organize rapidly and disseminate tactics and strategies with unprecedented efficiency. Large-scale demonstrations can materialize seemingly overnight, making traditional intelligence gathering methods less effective. The police need to adapt by developing robust social media monitoring capabilities. Dedicated teams can monitor online spaces to identify potential leaders, understand planned routes, and anticipate flashpoints. However, these efforts must be balanced with a clear understanding of privacy limitations and respect for freedom of assembly. Clear protocols, transparency, and legal guidance are essential to ensure that monitoring activities are conducted lawfully and ethically.
The constant stream of unfiltered information from live streams and social media posts has a significant impact on public perception. Negative portrayals of police actions, even if exaggerated or unverified, can quickly erode public trust and cooperation. This is frequently an intentional act aimed at de-legitimizing the police. Building trust in this digital age requires a commitment to transparency and accountability. The police need clear procedures for handling complaints and investigating allegations of misconduct. Proactive release of body camera footage can help dispel negative narratives, fostering public understanding of police actions during protests.
Transparency goes beyond just video. Police departments should also be upfront about their use of social media surveillance tools and data collection practices, ensuring such practices comply with privacy laws and maintain public trust. Open and transparent communication with the public, both online and offline, is crucial for building trust and ensuring that the narrative surrounding police actions is accurate and fair.
Community engagement, a cornerstone of effective public order policing, must adapt to the digital age. Social media can be a powerful tool for fostering two-way communication between the police and the communities they are sworn to protect. Departments can utilize these platforms to share information about public safety initiatives, address community concerns, and humanize the officers who serve their neighborhoods. This can involve highlighting positive community interactions, showcasing officer training programs, and featuring stories of officers who are making a difference. Open dialogues with community leaders and activists, both online and offline, can help bridge divides and build trust before tensions rise. Additionally, fostering relationships with community-based organizations can create valuable lines of communication during protests, allowing for de-escalation efforts and conflict resolution facilitated by trusted community figures.
The Expanding Policing’s Technological Toolbox
Technology plays a crucial role in the information age, and public order policing is no exception. Tools like facial recognition and drone surveillance offer potential benefits in public order policing and identifying potential threats. However, these technologies also raise serious ethical concerns. These concerns are exacerbated by policing’s frequent lack of transparency. Police agencies need to carefully evaluate the potential benefits and drawbacks of these technologies before deploying them. Facial recognition, for instance, has been shown to exhibit racial bias, raising concerns about discriminatory application. Similarly, drone surveillance can create a chilling effect on free speech and assembly. Regulations and clear use-of-force policies are crucial to ensure these tools are used effectively, ethically, and in compliance with civil liberties. A comprehensive ethical framework for the use of technological tools in public order policing is essential to strike a balance between public safety and individual rights.
Building a Resilient Force: Training and Education
The increasingly complicated nature of public order policing demands a multi-faceted approach. Investing in digital literacy is key for officers. Training them to critically evaluate online information, identify potential misinformation and disinformation, and understand online investigative techniques is crucial for effective intelligence gathering. Officers must be able to distinguish between legitimate protest planning and potential threats of violence. Additionally, training in de-escalation tactics specifically tailored to online rhetoric can equip officers with the tools to manage tense situations before they escalate into violence. Understanding how rumors and misinformation spread online can help officers tailor communication strategies to effectively counter false narratives and maintain public order.
Building a Culture of De-escalation
There has been an expansive discussion in this country about the need for a shift in focus towards a culture of de-escalation in public order policing. This requires training officers in active listening, negotiation techniques, and implicit bias recognition. Officers should be equipped with a variety of non-lethal tools and crowd control techniques that prioritize dialogue and minimize the use of force. Furthermore, fostering a culture of de-escalation requires a shift in departmental mindsets. Command structures should prioritize de-escalation strategies and hold officers accountable for unnecessary use of force.
Conclusion
Public order policing in the information age is a continuous evolution. Law enforcement agencies must remain adaptable, constantly re-evaluating strategies and embracing new approaches. Building trust with the communities they serve is paramount. Transparency, accountability, and a commitment to civil liberties are essential for fostering a sense of shared responsibility for public safety.
The future of public order policing in the information age hinges on a collaborative approach. Police leaders need to work closely with community leaders, civil society organizations, and technology companies. Open dialogues and joint training initiatives can foster understanding and build bridges between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Technology companies, for instance, have a role to play in developing content moderation strategies that limit the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. Additionally, collaboration with legal experts is crucial to ensure that law enforcement practices comply with evolving privacy laws and regulations.
By embracing these measures, policing can navigate the complexities of the information age while upholding the core tenets of public safety and civil liberties. The public square, once a physical space, has expanded into the digital realm. Policing this new frontier requires a commitment to transparency, community engagement, and a culture of de-escalation. It is through this commitment that the police can ensure public safety while safeguarding the fundamental rights that are the bedrock of a free and democratic society.
About the author
Ryan Lee retired from the Portland, Oregon Police Bureau in 2020. He then served for over two years as the Chief of Police in Boise, Idaho. He is an experienced and committed police modernizer and reformer.
Chief Lee has deployed hundreds of times in public order operations ranging from peaceful gatherings to riots. He has served as a subject matter expert in public order policing for the USDOJ, National Institute of Justice, Center for Domestic Preparedness, IACP’s Collaborative Reform Initiative-Technical Assistance Center, the National Tactical Officers, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center through the Federal Protective Service, and he has lectured international on public order policing.
His book on public order policing, Public Order Policing: A Professional's Guide to International Theories, Case Studies, and Best Practices, which he edited with Bernd Bürger and Tamara D. Herold (also a FPI Fellow), can be found here and here.