Twitter Threats Can Result in a Criminal Record
Twitter Threats Can Result in a Criminal Record is a post from Chris PirilloA few months ago, I talked about the guy who used Twitter as a means to threaten an airport. When Paul Chambers had a flight canceled back in January, he decided to vent his frustration on Twitter with a bit of dark humor, stating: “Robin Hood airport is closed. You’ve got a week and a bit to get your shit together, otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!!” Unfortunately for him, the police don’t find it a bit funny. A week after posting the message on the Twitter, he was arrested under the Terrorism Act. He was then questioned for nearly seven hours by police officers who took his joke as a security threat. He has been suspended for work pending investigation, and been banned from the local airport for life!Today, Mr. Chambers was found guilty in a court of law. Making a threat on Twitter cost him nearly $1,500 in fines, his job and his ability to fly those particular friendly skies. The Telegraph writes that “district judge Jonathan Bennett found Chambers guilty of sending a message by means of a public electronic message that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character contrary to the Communications Act 2003.”Mike Melanson, a ReadWriteWeb author, brings up a great point. He wonders where the line should be drawn when a threat is made. If a person were to get mad and yell out “I’m going to kill someone!” we usually don’t take them very seriously. Is it the worldwide public availability of Twitter that made the threat seem to be more “important” than what Chambers meant it to be?I’ve said it a hundred times, and I’ll say it a hundred more: be careful what you put online. If you’re having a bad day, you should be more aware than ever before you hit that mighty send button.
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