Slashdot Mirror
UK Twitter Users Declare 'I'm Spartacus'
An anonymous reader writes "Tweeters have joined forces to support Paul Chambers, the man convicted and fined for a Twitter message threatening to blow up an airport. A so-called 'I'm Spartacus' campaign encouraging users to 're-tweet' his words has also become a huge hit. The hashtag #IAmSpartacus is currently the number one trending topic on Twitter in the UK, with #twitterjoketrial in second place. Chambers is believed to be the first person convicted in the UK for posting an offensive tweet. After the hearing, actor and Twitter fan Stephen Fry tweeted that he would pay Chambers' fine. Comedian Dara O'Briain tweeted that the verdict was 'ludicrous' while Peep Show actor David Mitchell said it was 'punishment for flippancy.'"
I suspect not as many people will re-tweet on behalf of Garreth Compton.
For those wondering, from TFA:
The I'm Spartacus campaign is inspired by the famous scene in the 1960s blockbuster, when slaves stood up one by one to claim "I'm Spartacus" in order to save their fellow gladiator from detection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Manchester_bombing
Most Mancunians I've spoken to say it was the best thing to happen to their city center.
The Human Rights Act 1998 guarantees freedom of expression in article 10.1:
Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This Article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
... and then takes away the protection on the contentious speech that might actually need protecting in 10.2:
The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
The exact phrase to be re-tweeted is: "Crap! Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week to get your shit together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"
See http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/code2010english.pdf (PDF warning), page 10.
Airport security did see the tweet, (via a random search by an off duty staff member.) and rated it as "No credible threat"
A latent existence
The Communications Act 2003 contained parts of a 1930s law aimed at stopping obscene phone calls made to telephone operators. Definitely not aimed at bomb threats, jokes, or any medium other than 1 to 1 telephone calls.
A latent existence
The same law also makes it a criminal offence to lie on the internet or over the phone in order to wind someone up, or to be indecent or obscene. I guess all those sex phone lines are illegal. And any crude comments on facebook or twitter.
I'm not making this up, read it for yourself here.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/127
A latent existence