Social media has become an integral component of emergency and disaster response efforts, but these sources of emergency information could also be used maliciously, finds a Sept. 6 Congressional Research Service report (.pdf) made public Sept. 13 by the Federation of American Scientists' blog Secrecy News.

"Inaccurate and false information may be an inherent problem, given the nature of social media platforms and the number of people disseminating information," write report authors.

"Some individuals or organizations might intentionally provide inaccurate information to confuse, disrupt, or otherwise thwart response efforts," adds the report.

Agencies using social media during emergencies should be aware of these potential policy implications, notes the CRS report.

The report mentions several social media strategies currently utilized governmentwide but suggests agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency leverage additional benefits of social media use. The CRS report says that were FEMA to create webpages for specific emergencies and disasters, such sites would be easy to find and could later serve as an information hub for recovery efforts, and eventually serve as a historical document.

The report also notes the benefits of social media monitoring to help establish "situational awareness" and obtain real-time information as an event unfolds. "FEMA may also be able to use the information to direct certain resources to reduce damages, loss of life, or both," write report authors.

For more:
- download the CRS report

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