In an apparent attempt to look for ways to better spy on the users of Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites, the Strategic Information and Operations Center (SOIC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is soliciting proposals for a “social media application” which can help the investigating agency detect emergencies before they actually take place.

The SOIC said in a recent post on the Federal Business Opportunities website that the app should boast the ability to spider through the public content which is posted on social media sites; and identify specific key words and phrases which may be an indication of the possible occurrence of a certain incident.

Going by the detailed guidelines about the prospective online snooping tool, the SOIC post said that the successful app should have the capability to quickly bring together vital open-source information and intelligence, so as to help the SOIC promptly investigate, spot, and geo-locate “breaking events, incidents, and emerging threats.”

Further adding that the app will be used in “reconnaissance and surveillance missions, National Special Security Events (NSS) planning, NSSE operations, SOIC operations, counter intelligence, terrorism” and other such instances, the post stressed that the tool should be capable to sustain a strategic and tactical advantage by being an “infinitely flexible” mechanism that can adapt rapidly to changing threats.

About the need for such a tool, the post said: “The purpose of this effort is to meet the outlined objectives…for the enhancement [of] FBI SOIC’s overall situation awareness and improved strategic decision making.”