Twitter, Facebook et al, are seen as being cuddly and comfortable -- part of our everyday lives. But as with any highly useful form of communication, social media can have a dark side. One only has to think of the 2011 London riots, where social media were used by malcontents to coordinate and execute unlawful activities, including violent affray, looting and arson.
In a thought-provoking article in the New York Times, Damien Cave reports on Twitter usage in Mexico. "...Twitter has more than 4 million users in Mexico, according to tracking companies; and among more than 30 million people with regular internet access, 95 per cent have profiles on Facebook." Mexico is currently in the grip of a very violent crime wave. On the plus-side, Twitter is being used to warn fellow citizens away from no-go areas or grisly crime scenes. But on the dark side, Twitter is also being used to spread uncontrolled malicious rumors. '"Social media is no longer for fun and socializing in Mexico."'
The article reports that Veracruz's State Assembly has recently "...made it a crime to use Twitter and other social networks to undermine public order." It will be very interesting to see if the UK Government adopts the same swingeing laws as Mexico has done. Broadly speaking, United Kingdom citizens do not enjoy the same First Amendment protections as do Americans. It is unlikely that such a law would pass on Capitol Hill. But if we get to a situation, similar to that existing in Mexico, where the function and utility of Twitter is being used for nasty (or evil) purposes, then the boundaries of the First Amendment might have to be tested.
Damien Cave. "Mexico Turns to Social Media for Information and Survival." September 25, 2011. New York Times. International Section, page 5.
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