G-Men go geeky with new social-media tools

May 20, 2009

The Federal Bureau of Investigation unveiled its new suite of social-media tools, including a freaky Second Life 3-D virtual world of bad guys — one hopefully free of the gore and soft-porn of multi-player vampire fantasy games.

Seriously, who doesn’t want fugitives at your fingertips?

Friend the FBI? Click the image to visit the FBI Facebook page.

Are you a follower? Click the image to flip to the FBI Twitter page.

It's better than 'COPS.' Click the image to view the FBI YouTube videos.

Is that a terrorist in your pocket? The FBI now offers mobile phone apps.

Coming soon to a virtual world near you -- FBI Second Life.

An FBI press release trumpets the future of nabbing bad guys (and girls) in a virtual play world better known for online sex sites, global religious gatherings, livestreaming sporting events, foreign embassies’ customer service sites, sci-fi fantasy games and karaoke.

“We’re doing pilot tests in Second Life—a free 3-D world inhabited by millions of people worldwide—for virtual billboards and kiosks that show the mugs of our Ten Most Wanted fugitives and connect people to FBI jobs, our Internet Crime Complaint Center, and the wanted posters of cyber criminals.”