Who's A Rat (www.whosarat.com) is the first site to allow users around the country to post local, state and federal agents' and informants' names, pictures and related information. Legal? The founder of Who's A Rat says yes -- and has case law to prove it. Ethical? Regardless of your answer to that question, says the site's founder, the point of Who's A Rat is not to target law-enforcement officers and their informants, but to assist attorneys and defendants who have few resources as they prepare to stand trial. To that end, each listing includes the informant's or officer's full name, age, location, race and occupation; agencies he or she works for; facts that bring the subject's credibility into question; known illegal activity and criminal record, if applicable; and picture, if available. Users are also required to supply their own contact information or that of their lawyers. "Every month, nearly 100,000 Americans are arrested on drug charges," explained Sean Bucci, founder and president of Who's A Rat. "What's more, there are over two million people in jail in this country because the government dedicates most of its resources to the 'drug war' -- yet drugs are more readily available and cheaper than ever. Although Who's A Rat was created to assist individuals involved in any criminal matter, we expect it will be particularly helpful to those with drug charges against them." The "Latest News" section highlights current reports of criminal cases and paid snitches, while the site's message board allows users to discuss cases and witnesses. It may sound threatening to those on the right side of the law -- but Who's A Rat reserves the right to edit or delete any material submitted by users that crosses the thin line between freedom of speech and criminal behavior.
