The Department of Homeland Security plans to use Twitter and Facebook to warn citizens about threats with its new National Terrorism Advisory System. The new program will in part replace the old color-coded system, put in place following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, that’s being phased out. Please RT, etc.
The new system, which the AP says is expected to launch on April 27, will post warnings to the social networks “when appropriate.” In truth it’s probably not too far removed from the emergency broadcast system warnings and tests that go out over TV and radio. Might as well tap into Twitter an Facebook if people are on them all day long, right?
And not necessarily related to the social network connection, it’s also said that Homeland Security is wavering as to how much information to release with the new warning system. The fear is that giving away too much information in the warnings will give the bad guys a heads-up, if you will, but not releasing enough information presents its own problems. You can’t win for losing, as they say.