NYPD Twitter Fail

News

NYPD Twitter Fail

It could happen to any of us with the best or even the worst of intentions. Social media can backfire and blow up right in your face based on the information that you choose to present, your comments to information already presented or the information that you favorite, share, re-Tweet, like, reply to or repost. The New York Police Department can attest to this.

Much like the 2012 #McDstories hashtag debacle, urging customers to share their favorite memories of McDonald’s, only for it to be answered with food horror stories about fingernails, insects and bouts of food poisoning, #NYPD posted the following on Twitter:

Seems like a harmless Tweet with a pretty creative hashtag for trying to build trust with the public, right? Well, there’s something to be said for timing. You see, this tweet was tweeted soon after the announcement that the police officer who put Eric Garner in a choke hold, eventually killing him, would not be indicted for Garner’s death. And, by a police chief no less. =

Of course, criticism followed in a flood of tweeted responses.

“Free Massages from the #NYPD. What does YOUR Police Department offer?” This was tweeted by @OccupyWallStNYC along with an image of officers holding a man down who was screaming with his arms behind his back.

“The #NYPD will also help you de-tangle your hair,” touted another Tweeter, @MoreandAgain, who posted a photo of an officer pulling the hair of a person who looked to be under arrest.

To be fair, other responses weren’t bad including the one by @poshwonderwoman, who tweeted a photo of her ride along with the 90th precinct:

But, typically the bad over takes the good in situations like this, and at 4:15p.m., the New York City Digital Director ordered city officials to “stop all outbound social content until further notice.”

Here enters the concern of security, especially for Chief Joanne Jaffe. She issued the tweet and that tweet will be forever connected to her work Twitter account, @NYPDCommAffairs, along with her picture. Anyone who “disagrees” with her and finds it necessary to retaliate, has the necessary information to locate her as it is known what she looks like, where she works, who she works for, who she follows as well as who follows her…all on the Twitter profile. And, with a history of 421 Tweets, criminals can get an idea of her events she has attended and a historical account of her work life.

Sometimes, you have to think like a criminal BEFORE you do something on social media that may seem harmless at the time.

(Slideshow picture: a katz / Shutterstock.com)

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services
  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities