5 ways technology shaped the London riots

Looters organized using BlackBerry Messenger, while cleanup efforts have come together on Twitter

A London talks on his iPhone while assessing the damage to his looted shop: Twitter and other social media have aided the city during the cleanup.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Luke MacGregor)

For better or worse, social media and smartphones have been at the forefront of the London riots, which have claimed the lives of at least four people and led to the arrest of more than 1,300. Digital messages helped looters turn British cities into chaotic messes — which were subsequently cleaned up by community efforts organized through social media. Here, five ways technology has been a part of the riots:

1. Rioters used BlackBerry Messenger for subversive communication

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up