Social media has been a potent force in fueling the riots that began Saturday in London’s boroughs, later spreading to other areas such as Birmingham, Liverpool, Leeds and Bristol.  Messages have also been sent via regular SMS, Twitter and Facebook. But the social networks have also provided refuge for fearful residents and shop owners who say police efforts have been feeble and slow.  Twitter is helping to pinpoint areas of violence, organize community cleanup groups and alert people of alternative routes they can use.

Just as Facebook had given direction to the support for a revolution for Egypt, the social network gave a path of justice for Mark Duggan, too. The path became one of violent riots and uncontrollable looting.  The same social commentators who patted Facebook on the back and spoke about the shining good of the social networking mediums now rage about the evil that it has come to be.

In his opening Commons statement Mr. Cameron said that within the next few weeks home secretary, Theresa May, would be holding urgent meetings with Facebook, Twitter and Research In Motion to discuss their responsibilities and look at whether it was possible to stop suspected rioters spreading online messages.

And while BlackBerry Messenger allows easy access to one and all it also makes way to provide pointers of where to loot next, which store to attack, and to summon distractions by inviting further looting. Social networking is a faceless spirit–it does not take sides. An ad hoc social tool emerging to support a cause or react strongly against one built on the needs and attitude of the people who comprise it. And that is perhaps the most dangerous aspect of social networking. It is beyond all control. By the time whistleblowers or watchdogs can get to work–the damage has been done.