ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Ithaca Police Department (IPD) is disabling comments on its social media pages.

According to IPD, the public information tool has “increasingly become a forum for public debate and commentary that provides limited value” to their mission.

Additionally, they note a significant rise in scam activity and fraudulent accounts targeting users. The department says public comments on a government social page constitute a public forum, and they cannot selectively hide, block, censor, or restrict individual users “without raising potential First Amendment concerns.”

In a Facebook post, IPD says they recognize the decision may be unpopular. Tips can still be submitted here.