Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Wed May 08, 2013 4:13 pm  

In a shot across the bow, the courts have now ruled in the case of 2 defendants who put up images purporting to be of the Bulger killers, one on FB the other on Twitter, in breach of the prohibition and so in contempt of court. The mitigation in both cases was that they didn't realise the seriousness of their actions.

The court gave both jail sentences of 9 months. In each case, these were suspended, as far as I can see in large part to ignorance of seriousness, but the court warned that f there were further publications on the internet or social media after a judgment was given, there would be little prospect of the person escaping a substantial custodial sentence without any prospect of suspension.

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Wed May 08, 2013 4:22 pm  

Seems reasonable.

Given that there had already been the Ched Evans case, with Twitter users naming his victim, that defence is wearing increasingly thin.

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Wed May 08, 2013 6:39 pm  

A shame it wasn't custodial this time.
Until that happens, it'll get flaunted.

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 11:05 am  

There are some interesting and informed views on the subject here ... http://davidbanksmedialaw.wordpress.com

There are some interesting and informed views on the subject here ... http://davidbanksmedialaw.wordpress.com

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 11:08 am  

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1040 ... us_tweets/ Saints are at it now, investigating 5 tweets containing allegations about Jonny Lomax.

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/1040 ... us_tweets/ Saints are at it now, investigating 5 tweets containing allegations about Jonny Lomax.

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 11:15 am  

EHW wrote:

http://www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/10408992.Saints_lawyers_scan_malicious_tweets/

Saints are at it now, investigating 5 tweets containing allegations about Jonny Lomax.

Not commenting on that particular issue but it highlights the importance with which businesses who deal with the public must treat their own use of social media - well placed and frequent news bulletins on social media and not just on their own web sites in situations such as those described above would alleviate a lot of the gossip and innuendo.

[DaveO]

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 11:56 am  

JerryChicken wrote:

Not commenting on that particular issue but it highlights the importance with which businesses who deal with the public must treat their own use of social media - well placed and frequent news bulletins on social media and not just on their own web sites in situations such as those described above would alleviate a lot of the gossip and innuendo.

That is a very good point. Wigan fans are often the last to know, officially, about transfers and other important (to the fans) issues. The argument put forward when anyone complains about the silence from the club is they shouldn't have to comment on every rumour. What this argument fails to recognise is that it isn't some kind of onerous task to do so. Twitter in particular is an incredibly efficient way for an organisation to disseminate information and in particular quash any nasty rumours going around. I think this is coupled with a social change that means it is no longer good enough for an organisation to try and stand aloof from such things. Social media has given people a certain set of expectations in terms of how, when and how often an organisations responds.

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 12:43 pm  

DaveO wrote:

That is a very good point. Wigan fans are often the last to know, officially, about transfers and other important (to the fans) issues. The argument put forward when anyone complains about the silence from the club is they shouldn't have to comment on every rumour. What this argument fails to recognise is that it isn't some kind of onerous task to do so. Twitter in particular is an incredibly efficient way for an organisation to disseminate information and in particular quash any nasty rumours going around. I think this is coupled with a social change that means it is no longer good enough for an organisation to try and stand aloof from such things. Social media has given people a certain set of expectations in terms of how, when and how often an organisations responds.

Its one thing that Leeds Rugby Ltd does very well for both its professional rugby teams, on the other hand they employ people specifically to do this job and their Twitter feed is so frequent that its a bloody nuisance sometimes

The other point to make too is that most pro-RL players have their own Twitter accounts and are often the source of some of those rumours the clubs shouldn't control those but the Leeds feed certainly reacts to them, often retweets them and definitely trys to be the first out there with updates on injuries etc.

I just wish that Twitter was around when Iestyn Harris left for Cardiff, I was privy to just a little sneak inside info on the days leading up to that and it was certainly very entertaining

Re: Tweeters, Facebook and the law : Thu May 09, 2013 6:32 pm  

JerryChicken wrote:

Not commenting on that particular issue but it highlights the importance with which businesses who deal with the public must treat their own use of social media - well placed and frequent news bulletins on social media and not just on their own web sites in situations such as those described above would alleviate a lot of the gossip and innuendo.

Completely agree.

Saints have disappeared in this regard this season and I don't think it has served them well at all.