Legal Question

[jradicle11]

So, we think the school cop decided to make a facebook account. He's pretending to be a 16 year old girl, has a few pictures posted. He or she claims to be from California, yet, has no friends from California which is a bit odd.

At school, we've been getting lectures on internet security. This is what leads us to believe this person is the school cop (and the fact that no one has ever seen the girl pictured in school).

Now, I'm trying to find out if this is legal or not.

The way I think of it, if I were 35 years old and was pretending to be a girl on facebook to befriend teenagers, I would get arrested for child predation. What makes it legal for him to do that same? I highly doubt a school cop would have the authorization to do such a thing.

 

[madmansam]

If he is really a cop ..so he must have been ordered to do so .. it is like being undercover whilst on duty ..not that I agree with the way its done but IMO if he is there to catch someone doing our kids harm so let it be .

 

[jradicle11]

Well, he's the school's "Police Liaison." I don't think he reports to any senior officers or anything. He sits in the Dean's office and acts as a hall monitor, except he has a gun.

 

[whs]

Does not sound legal to me, but I am no lawyer. Why don't you report it to the police.

 

[thefabe]

Reporting him may get you your answer or not. The problem becomes a question of intent.

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

Go through the Terms

Statement of Rights and Responsibilities | Facebook

 

[IggyAZ]

If he is tryuly a law enforcement officer and not a rent a cop I would think he is doing this under the law to catch the bad guys. Now how can know for sure it is him or just a shy girl? Youare making alot of assumptions. Where are the facts?

NO FACTS YET.....

So, we think (how do you know?)the school cop decided to make a facebook account. He's pretending to be a 16 year old girl (how do you know?) has a few pictures posted. He or she claims to be from California, yet, has no friends from California which is a bit odd. (how do you know?)

At school, we've been getting lectures on internet security. This is what leads us to believe this person is the school cop (and the fact that no one has ever seen the girl pictured in school).

 

[Capt.Jack Sparrow]

If he is tryuly a law enforcement officer and not a rent a cop I would think he is doing this under the law to catch the bad guys. Now how can know for sure it is him or just a shy girl? Youare making alot of assumptions. Where are the facts?

NO FACTS YET.....

So, we think (how do you know?)the school cop decided to make a facebook account. He's pretending to be a 16 year old girl (how do you know?) has a few pictures posted. He or she claims to be from California, yet, has no friends from California which is a bit odd. (how do you know?)

At school, we've been getting lectures on internet security. This is what leads us to believe this person is the school cop (and the fact that no one has ever seen the girl pictured in school).

+1
Good one IggyAZ

 

[TimStitt]

It 'is' an assumption that it's the school cop posing as a 16 year old girl. However, if you suspect that it's not a 16 year old girl, you really should pass those suspicions on, this way everyone is safe.

The best solution is to report it to the authorities, tell them it's only a suspicion but ask them to check it out. If it's illegal then the the person/institution will likely be found and prosecuted, regardless of whether ordered to do so by the school or not. If it's legit, then you've done the right thing anyway and protected yourself and your peers (you can always ask to remain anonymous if this is a concern for you).

 

[jradicle11]

Well, our district is inviting parents to internet safety lecture. During school, some people have been coming in and giving lectures to classes about internet safety.

I have nothing to worry about, don't get me wrong. It's just, if this indeed a cop, it seems wrong to me. They would just be preaching against the very thing they're trying to protect.

I honestly don't think a highly ranked wealthy public school's use of facebook should be any of their concern. It's blocked during school so anything that does go on isn't school related.

I gave out a nice little cease and desist along with the Facebook terms of agreement he/she is violating.

If I'm wrong, I'm going to look like a fool. Oh, well.

 

[jimbo45]

Hi all
Any "Law enfocement" - especially these days is a question of checks and balances.
In the last analysis Governments can always use "their get out of Jail Free Card" -- National Security -- but going down this route is a slippery slope that will end in a total suspension of any sort of Human Rights even in the USA.

I'm not sure that acting as an "Agent Provocateur" is the best or even a legal way of catching criminals -- some clever lawyer will probably get any type of case thrown out of Court anyway assuming it gets as far as a public court.

Naming and shaming the individual concerned over the web would probably be a better solution -- the "Court of Public Opinion" is usually a pretty good guide in this type of depravity.

Cheers
jimbo