Facebook’s new facial recognition feature allows users on the popular social network to find more online friends based on how their photos match users with photos containing the same friends. This is an easy way to increase one’s number of Facebook friends, but the creep factor goes way up for those who understandably don’t want other people in photos to be able to locate them.

That being said, law enforcement may find this technology useful, as developing leads in a criminal case can mean locating potential suspects and/or witnesses using this new feature. Although facial recognition technology is not new to law enforcement, Facebook’s version may be the cheaper way for law enforcement to go undercover to find out more about suspects. More and more we find law enforcement officers using the latest technology or social networking sites to help aid them in their investigations. It’s amazing what can be found online. Criminals love posting photos online, and gang members have been known to use social networks to recruit new members, communicate with current members and even get rid of their “loot” from recent thefts.