British Politician Fined for Twitter Comment
British Politician Fined for Twitter Comment
Posted 03/14/2011 at 8:40am
| by Paul Lilly
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In 2009, the NBA fined Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban $25,000 for criticizing referees via his Twitter account. Since then, comments made via the social networking service have led to a few libel lawsuits. Former Welsh mayor, Colin Elsbury, would have been wise to pay attention, as he's become the first British man fined for a libelous tweet.
According to an AP report, the former mayor tweeted that his challenger Eddie Talbot had been "forcibly removed" from a polling station by police, though that was before he was made aware that it was a case of mistaken identity. To Elsbury's credit, he did try to correct the tweet, but Talbot filed suit anyway.
The judge found Elsbury guilty and fined him £3,000 (around USD$4,830), plus court costs of around £50,000 (around USD$80,520). He was also ordered to issue a public apology on his Twitter account.
Talbot says the case should "act as a warning to people, including politicians, to be extremely careful when using Twitter and other social media such as blogs." Considering the high court costs, we think it should act as motivation to go to law school.
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Nimrod
March 16, 2011 at 8:17pm
Its more of an example of the total fuck up state of the UK than it is any kind of warning.
Mizufall
March 14, 2011 at 10:29pm
Thats harsh it's an opinion now I realize this happened in the UK so different laws but really? Is there anything else that the courts could be looking at thats more important than a troll?
Ghok
March 14, 2011 at 9:22pm
Uh, even in America you're not allowed to lie about people in an attempt to make them look bad. Nothing to do with free speech.
This seems to be just a case of telling a story that turned out not to be true. Guy should be ashamed for being such a gossip, but I don't really see it as libel. In his position he should be more careful, but it still seems a bit harsh.
Caboose
March 14, 2011 at 2:31pm
WTF? What ever happened to people reading the article completely, and realizing that the laws in the USA don't extend past its boarders, and that the rest of the world doesn't abide by the rules and regulations set forth by the US for its citizens living within its boarders?!
nadako
March 14, 2011 at 11:33am
What happened to freedom of speach. This is just retarded people can say what they think i guess the judges or other sue happy people just fear of the mass of people listening through twitter VS a handful of people that listen to him in person.
starshaper11
March 14, 2011 at 10:48am
Thats pretty stupid. i dare them to try that. whatever happend to freedom of speech..ill say whatever i want.
methuselah
March 14, 2011 at 1:50pm
In Mark Cuban's case, being a team owner, he's subject to league rules and possible fines for his words/actions.
In the case of the "mayor" in this story, he's under English law, not US constitution "freedom of speech" laws. Matter of fact English citizens are called "subject of the crown"
The point I'm trying to make, you certainly are welcome to "say whatever you want" but be prepared to pay any consequences that come along with it.
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