SBU Reaches Out to Yik Yak and Law Enforcement - TAPinto.net
ST. BONAVENTURE, NY — St. Bonaventure officials continue to seek anyone with information regarding the identity of the people in the university community who made racist posts on Yik Yak earlier this week.
People with information are encouraged to fill out a Bias Incident Report or a Silent Witness Report.
SBU’s Office of Technology Services contacted Yik Yak to seek help in identifying the posters, but given the anonymous nature of the social media platform, Yik Yak will “only disclose user account information to law enforcement – without a subpoena, court order, or search warrant – in response to a valid emergency when it believes that doing so is necessary to prevent death or serious physical harm to someone.”
Tech Services also inquired with Yik Yak about geofencing the university to block access to Yik Yak, but Yik Yak indicated they prefer to enforce their Community Guardrails, including encouraging users to downvote negative comments so they’ll be deleted (if a post gets 5 downvotes).
“Ideally, I’d love to downvote the entire platform. Anonymity on social media is tearing at the fabric of our society,” Tom Missel, SBU’s chief communications officer, said. “But silence isn’t an answer either so if you see anything offensive on Yik Yak, or any social media vehicle, don’t tolerate it and push back. Downvote, comment, use your words for good, not evil.”
SBU’s Office of Safety and Security contacted the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit and the Special Agent of the local FBI office.
The posts on Yik Yak would be considered “hate speech,” but in order for a hate crime to have occurred, a threat of violence must have been present that a reasonable person would be in fear of harm to their physical safety. Despite the reprehensible language, the posts didn’t rise to the level of a hate crime that could be investigated further.
Katie O’Brien, vice president for Student Affairs, also filed a complaint with the New York State Attorney General’s Bureau of Internet & Technology. She has yet to receive a reply.
In addition to the initial notice the university sent Monday about the incident, emails of outrage and support for our students of color were sent via the university’s Notice Board from the Black Student Union executive board, Faculty Senate and Jandoli School of Communication Associate Professor Kimberly DeSimone, who had been a HEOP student. Student Government Association leaders posted to their Instagram account.
source: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/greater-olean/sections/education/articles/sbu-reaches-out-to-yik-yak-and-law-enforcement
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