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First Brit Prosecuted Over Twitter Libel

Posted by samzenpus on from the tweet-nice dept.

Tasha26 writes "A former town Mayor, Colin Elsbury, made legal history by being the first Brit to pay damages for libel on Twitter. His tweet on polling day said 'It's not in our nature to deride our opponents however Eddie Talbot had to be removed by the Police from a polling station' [and was held to amount] to pure election slur. The Twitter libel was settled at Cardiff High Court with total bill hitting £53,000 (£3,000 compensation + £50,000 legal fees). The fine works out at more than £2,400 per word. After Courtney Love's recent £260k settlement in a Twibel case, this case reaffirms that anything posted in the public domain is subject to libel laws."

2 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Sticks and stones ... by BitZtream · · Score: -1, Troll

    What ever happened to:

    Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.

    When did we all turn into a bunch of pussies who are unable to shrug off this sort of bullshit?

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    1. Re:Sticks and stones ... by PPH · · Score: -1, Troll

      has more credibility at Church

      A gullible lot to begin with.

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      Have gnu, will travel.