An Irish teacher brought Twitter to the High Court on New Year's eve.
She was looking for Twitter to remove an impersonating account.The account contained defamatory and offensive sexually related material about the teacher and her mother.
Twitter had denied liability for the posting of the offensive pictures and tweets claiming that it simply facilitated members of the public to "engage in discourse" over the internet.
The High Court ordered Twitter to remove the material immediately on the grounds that it was "grossly defamatory".
The teacher had sworn in her affidavit that both she and her solicitor had asked Twitter to remove the material on the grounds that it was an impersonation violation.
Twitter ignored their request.
She was looking for Twitter to remove an impersonating account.The account contained defamatory and offensive sexually related material about the teacher and her mother.
Twitter had denied liability for the posting of the offensive pictures and tweets claiming that it simply facilitated members of the public to "engage in discourse" over the internet.
The High Court ordered Twitter to remove the material immediately on the grounds that it was "grossly defamatory".
The teacher had sworn in her affidavit that both she and her solicitor had asked Twitter to remove the material on the grounds that it was an impersonation violation.
Twitter ignored their request.
The Problem with Facebook and Twitter
This isn't an isolated incident; not by a long stretch.
I know a local business which is suffering at the hands of a Facebook account. The business owner has followed the protocol provided by Facebook to report the offensive and defamatory material.
Facebook, like Twitter,have refused to do anything.
Most people and businesses who suffer at the hands of anonymous bullies and cowards who hide behind a Twitter handle or Facebook account don't have the money to head to the High Court.
They are also faced with the dilemma: if they take steps to have the material removed or respond they are giving oxygen and attention to the offensive material.
So they hope that it will "blow over". Maybe it will, maybe not.
But the attitude of Twitter and Facebook to these types of incidents is sickening.
No person or business should have their reputation sacrificed at the hands of big corporations who consider only the interests of their shareholders and advertisers.
Defamation is defamation, regardless of whether it is on the internet or in your local paper.
And I can see it getting worse in Ireland in 2014.
Because there are a lot of disaffected loonies out there with chips on their shoulder about just about anything. Facebook and Twitter offer the perfect playground for these headcases.
Billy Hawkes, the Data Protection Commissioner, carried out an audit of Facebook and published a report on 21st September, 2012.
Issues that he looked at included
What do you think? I'd like to hear your opinion.
I know a local business which is suffering at the hands of a Facebook account. The business owner has followed the protocol provided by Facebook to report the offensive and defamatory material.
Facebook, like Twitter,have refused to do anything.
Most people and businesses who suffer at the hands of anonymous bullies and cowards who hide behind a Twitter handle or Facebook account don't have the money to head to the High Court.
They are also faced with the dilemma: if they take steps to have the material removed or respond they are giving oxygen and attention to the offensive material.
So they hope that it will "blow over". Maybe it will, maybe not.
But the attitude of Twitter and Facebook to these types of incidents is sickening.
No person or business should have their reputation sacrificed at the hands of big corporations who consider only the interests of their shareholders and advertisers.
Defamation is defamation, regardless of whether it is on the internet or in your local paper.
And I can see it getting worse in Ireland in 2014.
Because there are a lot of disaffected loonies out there with chips on their shoulder about just about anything. Facebook and Twitter offer the perfect playground for these headcases.
Billy Hawkes, the Data Protection Commissioner, carried out an audit of Facebook and published a report on 21st September, 2012.
Issues that he looked at included
- privacy policy,
- advertising,
- access requests,
- abuse reporting,
- posting on other profiles
- and a rang of other issues.
It's hard to believe that the sort of defamatory crap I have read on Facebook is allowed to remain there.
But maybe it hasn't been brought to his attention yet. Maybe more complaints to the data protection commissioner in addition to the normal remedies of an injunction and damages in the Civil Courts will do the trick.
It shouldn't be like this though.
Civilized society requires that people or businesses shouldn't have their good name and reputation sullied for the sake of few more "shares", "likes", or "retweets".
What do you think? I'd like to hear your opinion.
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