In our “Think Before Your Tweet” piece, we discussed the potential risks associated with ranting via Twitter. With Twitter serving as a new basis for conversation, social media users feel that they are speaking only to their online friends when they post something on a public Twitter page. Unfortunately, a public Twitter page creates a critical social media risk: a simple, angry rant can turn into a much bigger deal when it is put in electronic form and essentially published to millions of readers on the internet. Social media law is still developing, leaving room for confusion on part of social media users.
A British man recently learned a hard lesson on social media risk associated with angry Twittering. According to DailyRecord.co.uk , a twenty six year old “sent” a message to his 600 Twitter followers that he would blow an airport “sky high” because of the weather-related airport closings/delays back in January. He became the first person to be convicted of “sending” an offensive Tweet out. While the man, an accountant, did not believe his rant would be taken seriously – a UK judge saw differently. As quoted by DailyRecord.co.uk, “He failed to realise that his messages could be viewed by all Twitter users.” The young accountant lost his job over the incident, and he was fined at the following levels: £385 fine, a £15 victims’ surcharge and costs of £600.
This was the first Twitter related conviction… and we say it again, it’s time to evaluate your social media risks and Twitter risks, and make sure you assess, influence, and evolve.
by: Benish Shah, Esq. & Sheheryar Sardar, Esq., Sardar Law Firm LLC
For more information on social media law, contact: Sardar Law Firm at sardar@sardarlawfirm.com.
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