Twitter: We'll hand over super-injuction tweeters' details if asked

And says you're on your own

25 May 2011 17:16 GMT / By Paul Lamkin

Did you crack a funny joke at a certain footballer's expense on Twitter, linking him with the super-injunction case before his cover was blown by an attention-hungry MP?

Well, bad news kids - because Twitter's new European boss Tony Wang has stated that the micro-blogging giant will hand over your information to the authorities if the site is "legally required" to.

Speaking at the e-G8 forum in Paris, Wang also sent a clear message to tweeters that they would be on their own should such legal action taking place, saying that people who did "bad things" would have to defend themselves.

"Platforms have a responsibility, not to defend that user but to protect that user's right to defend him or herself," he said.

"Let them exercise their own legal rights under their own jurisdiction, whether that is a motion to quash the order or to oppose it or do a number of other things to defend themselves."

Now, how any court would be able to determine which tweets broke the rules of the super-injunction, and which ones were simple micky-takes is beyond us. After all, the footballer in question is extremely high profile and would have undoubtedly been subject of numerous mocking tweets daily, from opposing fans, even before this whole media storm kicked off.

It will be interesting to see how this one develops.

Via: bbc.co.uk

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