UK committee quizzes social networking bosses over riots

The bosses of the most popular social networking services acknowledge they do have a responsibility to prevent bad behaviour from their subscribers.

Facebook, Twitter and Blackberry have appeared before the British Home Affairs Select Committee to discuss how the rioting may have been enhanced by social media.

Twitter boss Alexander Macgillivray and Blackberry MD Stephen Bates said their services are not just used for bad behaviour.

"The constables that have testified before the committee made plain that they are using it very concretely for good during moments of crisis," Macgillivray said.

"And from our perspective, we take a view that communications generally and social media is a force for good," Bates added.