Wed, May 12, 2010
Banned For Life From Robin Hood Airport
From our "think before you Tweet" department, consider the
story of Paul Chambers, a British man who was concerned about his
flight from Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster being cancelled due
to snow in January. He posted a message on the micro-blogging site
saying "Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit
to get your (deleted) together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport
sky high!!"
Mr. Chambers was found guilty Monday on charges 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."
Chambers insisted that his message was intended as a joke, and
the Times of London reports that the airport found the threat to be
"non-credible." But Chambers was still found guilty by a
Magistrate's Court in Doncaster, fined nearly $570 and ordered to
pay almost $9,00 in court costs, as well as a small victims
fee.
Chambers also lost his job as a result of the arrest.
District Judge Jonathan Bennett said Chambers' message was of a
"menacing nature in the context of the time we live in."
The "Twittershere" is reportedly outraged, and similar "threats"
are apparently appearing on numerous accounts, so how this will all
play out is still unclear. But rather like being absolutely certain
that you want to click "send" on that e-mail to your boss, the
story should really make you think before you Tweet.
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