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Twitter users and the law – timeline Twitter users and the law – timeline
(about 2 months later)
May 2010 When his local airport is closed after heavy snow, Paul Chambers tweets: "You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!". Chambers is charged and convicted for sending a "menacing electronic communication", but the conviction is eventually quashed by the high court. The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, says threats that are not "credible" should not be prosecuted.May 2010 When his local airport is closed after heavy snow, Paul Chambers tweets: "You've got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!". Chambers is charged and convicted for sending a "menacing electronic communication", but the conviction is eventually quashed by the high court. The director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, says threats that are not "credible" should not be prosecuted.
March 2011 In the UK's first Twitter libel case, Colin Elsbury, a Plaid Cymru councillor in Caerphilly, is ordered to pay £3,000 damages and costs to a rival councillor, Eddie Talbot. Elsbury incorrectly alleged that police had removed Talbot from a polling station during a byelection in 2009.March 2011 In the UK's first Twitter libel case, Colin Elsbury, a Plaid Cymru councillor in Caerphilly, is ordered to pay £3,000 damages and costs to a rival councillor, Eddie Talbot. Elsbury incorrectly alleged that police had removed Talbot from a polling station during a byelection in 2009.
May 2011 More than 75,000 Twitter users – some knowingly, some unknowingly – defy a high court super-injunction to link the footballer Ryan Giggs to allegations of an affair with a reality TV star. John Hemming MP then uses parliamentary privilege to name Giggs, saying of the tweeters that it would be "impracticable to imprison them all", prompting debate over the role of social media and the efficacy of the law.May 2011 More than 75,000 Twitter users – some knowingly, some unknowingly – defy a high court super-injunction to link the footballer Ryan Giggs to allegations of an affair with a reality TV star. John Hemming MP then uses parliamentary privilege to name Giggs, saying of the tweeters that it would be "impracticable to imprison them all", prompting debate over the role of social media and the efficacy of the law.
September 2011 Sean Duffy is jailed for 18 weeks after being found guilty under the Malicious Communication Act 1988 of making "grossly offensive" comments about dead children on Facebook and YouTube, including mocking a 15-year-old who had killed herself. Criminal Prosecution Service guidelines have clarified that however unsavoury, general "vulgar comment" is not illegal.September 2011 Sean Duffy is jailed for 18 weeks after being found guilty under the Malicious Communication Act 1988 of making "grossly offensive" comments about dead children on Facebook and YouTube, including mocking a 15-year-old who had killed herself. Criminal Prosecution Service guidelines have clarified that however unsavoury, general "vulgar comment" is not illegal.
March 2012 The former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns wins £90,000 damages over a tweet that accused him of match-fixing. The allegation was made by Lalit Modi, former chairman of the Indian Premier League, who refused to remove the tweet.March 2012 The former New Zealand cricket captain Chris Cairns wins £90,000 damages over a tweet that accused him of match-fixing. The allegation was made by Lalit Modi, former chairman of the Indian Premier League, who refused to remove the tweet.
March 2012 Joshua Cryer, a law student, pleads guilty to sending offensive messages under the 2003 Communications Act after sending a string of racist tweets to the footballer Stan Collymore. The district judge Stephen Earl says that although Cryer is not inherently racist, he "acted in an intentionally fascist way". Cryer says he was trying to "snare a celebrity". He is sentenced to two years of community service.March 2012 Joshua Cryer, a law student, pleads guilty to sending offensive messages under the 2003 Communications Act after sending a string of racist tweets to the footballer Stan Collymore. The district judge Stephen Earl says that although Cryer is not inherently racist, he "acted in an intentionally fascist way". Cryer says he was trying to "snare a celebrity". He is sentenced to two years of community service.
April 2012 When the footballer Ched Evans is convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman, a flurry of comments on Twitter and Facebook name the victim, some describing her as a "money-grabbing slut" and accusing her of "crying rape". Seven men and two women, some of whom were friends of Evans, are found guilty by Welsh magistrates under the 1992 Sexual Offences Act and fined £624 each. All say they did not know that naming the victim was a criminal offence.April 2012 When the footballer Ched Evans is convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman, a flurry of comments on Twitter and Facebook name the victim, some describing her as a "money-grabbing slut" and accusing her of "crying rape". Seven men and two women, some of whom were friends of Evans, are found guilty by Welsh magistrates under the 1992 Sexual Offences Act and fined £624 each. All say they did not know that naming the victim was a criminal offence.
July 2012 A 17-year-old is charged with harassment after telling the diver Tom Daley "you let your dad down" when he misses out on an Olympic medal. In a separate incident, the Welsh Premier League footballer Daniel Thomas sends a homophobic tweet after Daley and his diving partner Pete Waterfield finish fourth. The case is later dropped when the pair decline to press charges.July 2012 A 17-year-old is charged with harassment after telling the diver Tom Daley "you let your dad down" when he misses out on an Olympic medal. In a separate incident, the Welsh Premier League footballer Daniel Thomas sends a homophobic tweet after Daley and his diving partner Pete Waterfield finish fourth. The case is later dropped when the pair decline to press charges.
November 2012 The Conservative peer Lord McAlpine announces that he is seeking libel damages over defamatory tweets linking him to child sex abuse. McAlpine drops legal action against those with fewer than 500 followers but pursues Sally Bercow, wife of the Commons speaker John Bercow, in the high court's first Twitter libel trial. Bercow is found guilty and agrees to pay undisclosed damages.November 2012 The Conservative peer Lord McAlpine announces that he is seeking libel damages over defamatory tweets linking him to child sex abuse. McAlpine drops legal action against those with fewer than 500 followers but pursues Sally Bercow, wife of the Commons speaker John Bercow, in the high court's first Twitter libel trial. Bercow is found guilty and agrees to pay undisclosed damages.
July 2013 The feminist campaigner Caroline Criado Perez receives violent tweets including threats of rape and murder after successfully campaigning for a woman to replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note. Police arrest a 21-year-old Manchester man on suspicion of harassment offences.July 2013 The feminist campaigner Caroline Criado Perez receives violent tweets including threats of rape and murder after successfully campaigning for a woman to replace Charles Darwin on the £10 note. Police arrest a 21-year-old Manchester man on suspicion of harassment offences.
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