1. The topic of intelligence gathering, and particularly of online intelligence gathering, has generated a lot of positive and negative reactions on the parts of citizens. On the one hand, intelligence gathering, especially with the appearance of internet, has become more efficient and allows authorities to respond to both internal and external threats in a timely manner. However, on the negative end lies the fact that many of the protocols used to gather information also include, in some form, a certain violation of the right to privacy, among others. This discussion has been ongoing. Also, another pitfall has been that objectivity may not always be present during intelligence information gathering on the part of law enforcers. Finally, and most worryingly is the fact that reports have been made of abuse of power from law enforcers in the act of gathering information and also of manipulation of information.
2. As for online predation, the issue has become a real public problem. The latest research studies not only show an increase in this type of activity, but are also showing that younger adolescents, and even children, are falling victims to this. In essence, online predation is an adult, usually male, who seeks adolescents of certain characteristics online and establishes a sort of relationship with them, until he can lead them to personal meetings were usually sex is present. Most of the children, as of the latest studies, are between the ages of 13 and 17, most are kids with some sort of personal, behavioral, or abuse issue and they spend most of their time online on chatrooms or social media. Since 2000, the policing activities online, given this problem, have increased enormously and now you find undercovered agents posing as adolescents and they make contact with these criminals. Some of these undercover assignments have led to arrests and even discoverings of major criminal pederastic networks.
3. Unfortunately, the process of information gathering while in a murder investigation can be very delicate, and one wrong move can lead to a final decision of not-guilty. One of the mistakes that can take place is when the information and clues gathered are tampered with or wrongly collected. The second one is when there is some sort of involvement on the part of investigators, or there is involvement of personal interests, on the part of law enforcers, with the scene of the crime or the people being investigated. The third is the seeking of information, gathering of information, or collection of people who are suspects without taking the right legal pathway, which means, a judicial order. These are only some of the mistakes that can lead to the exhoneration of someone who might be guilty of murder.
