The Times is reporting that citizens and travelers in India are being asked to stop updating their Twitter feeds with information regarding the recent attacks in Mumbai. The feed of posts tagged #mumbai is seeing heavy traffic with updates, and government officials are worried that information on the feed could be used by people behind the attacks to subvert efforts to stop the violence. There’s also the always unspoken but everpresent fear of propaganda, or worse — truth, swaying public opinion in the matter.
The Twitter community is mainly using the service to connect with family members who may be in harms way, but it’s inevitable that information on bombings, fires, and hostages will get out.
In recent days, Twitter use has skyrocketed. Is this microblogging’s first big crisis? If so, it will be interesting to see what comes from it.
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