There's no due process on the Internet.
Early last week, Nathan Kotylak was a 17-year-old water polo player planning to attend the University of Calgary. After he was photographed trying to light a Vancouver police car on fire, the team suspended him and Kotylak has become the subject of Canadian scorn, The Globe and Mail reported.
A 20-year-old professional mountain biker who wore his sponsor's name on a T-shirt when he was photographed rioting has lost multiple sponsorship deals. He told the Vancouver Sun, which reported those details, "I didn't go there for the riot, I went for the hockey game and got caught up in the hysteria of it afterwards."
Authorities investigating the June 15 riot that injured at least 140 and caused an estimated $1 million plus in damages haven't filed charges against anyone involved.
But faces, like those of the teen and the mountain biker, have been plastered on the Internet – a place that has made them easily accessible to their family and professional contacts long after the post-Stanley Cup hype.
Last week, the Federal Trade Commission gave a stamp of approval to a background check company that screens job applicants based on their Internet photos and postings, determining that Social Intelligence Corp. was in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act when searching what an applicant has posted to Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other sites, Forbes reported.
Camille Cacnio, a University of British Columbia student, was photographed walking into a formal wear shop and taking two pair of men's pants. The Globe and Mail reported on her confession to police and apology to the paper and in a blog post.
A UBC donor is threatening to pull his annual donation if she isn't expelled.
The young man photographed making out with his girlfriend as riot cops stood nearby was identified by his mother in Australia. "He's special like that," she told an Australian news site.
Vancouver police realized the potential of social media as the event was happening, sending a Twitter message asking that people save their riot pictures.
Seattle police took similar after-event action here following the 2001 Mardi Gras riot, collecting images of rioters which led to some prosecutions. However, officers stood by and Mayor Paul Schell was asleep as Kristopher Kime was killed and several others were injured.
Read more about social media's role in the Vancouver riots from the Vancouver Sun and The Globe and Mail.
For more Seattle police and crime news visit the front page of the Seattle 911 blog.
Casey McNerthney can be reached at 206-448-8220 or caseymcnerthney@seattlepi.com. Follow Casey on Twitter at twitter.com/mcnerthney.
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