Guy got arrested for making racist comments on twitter about Muamba

[exhashdotdot]

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16191419

Before I make my comment, let me be perfectly clear, I do not stand for racism and I think his comments whatever they are should be unacceptable.

But how can they arrest him for it? Is it actually against the law to arrest someone for making racist comments on twitter?

Regardless of what people say, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. I don't respect what he says but I respect his right to say what he says.

 

[kwerk]

So what did the guy say exactly? Can someone post it?

 

[exhashdotdot]

So what did the guy say exactly? Can someone post it?

I have no idea, his twitter has been taken down.

I'm assuming it has the n-bomb somewhere.

 

[piggeh]

Surprised he got arrested, he claimed that someone else had used his account to post the tweets. Looking at his tweet history (before the sudden hour of filth that was posted) he didnt seem like that much of a **. He repeatedly said the tweets weren't from him, although whether that was genuine or just desperation when he realised they'd been reported, is difficult to tell.

 

[RDM]

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16191419

Before I make my comment, let me be perfectly clear, I do not stand for racism and I think his comments whatever they are should be unacceptable.

But how can they arrest him for it? Is it actually against the law to arrest someone for making racist comments on twitter?

Regardless of what people say, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. I don't respect what he says but I respect his right to say what he says.

Twitter is effectively "in public" so you can probably be arrested for saying anything that you can be arrested in public for saying.

 

[Aedus]

This is why I don't use twitter, and I don't have a public FB page.

Not as if I make remarks like this anyway, but police seem to be cracking down on social networking media now (Not sure exactly what law he was breaking, though).

 

[exhashdotdot]

Surprised he got arrested, he claimed that someone else had used his account to post the tweets. Looking at his tweet history (before the sudden hour of filth that was posted) he didnt seem like that much of a **. He repeatedly said the tweets weren't from him, although whether that was genuine or just desperation when he realised they'd been reported, is difficult to tell.

You got a link to his tweet history?

 

[CaptainRAVE]

Shame they can't arrest all the trolls in this forum

 

[RomanNose]

Racism is against the law in the UK.

 

[exhashdotdot]

His first post was basically "LOL Muamba's dead", someone took a screeny.


Obviously contains bad launguage!

God it's quite awful. But I mean, go onto 4chan or worse websites and you see this **** repeatedly. I seriously cannot believe he can be legally arrested for this.

There are hundreds of cases of masses focusing hatespeech on others (Gaddafi for a recent example).

 

[Malevolence]

Obviously he wasn't behind the prerequisite 7 proxies.

 

[HeadlessChicken]

God it's quite awful. But I mean, go onto 4chan or worse websites and you see this **** repeatedly. I seriously cannot believe he can be legally arrested for this.

There are hundreds of cases of masses focusing hatespeech on others (Gaddafi for a recent example).

Why do you find it hard to believe? Racism is illegal in this country. Just because you are behind a twitter account means nothing, you might as well do it in the street. Also when a case is as high profile as this was, it makes an example.

Other sites are generally anonymous, so almost impossible to track people down.

I don't rate this as absurd, overly politically correct or a waste of the Police's time. I hope he gets what he deserves.

 

[Domi]

incitement to racial hatred is the crime. Getting arrested does not mean he will be convicted.

The freedom of speech argument is utter tosh (I would use stronger terms but you get banned on this forum for that, ironic eh ?).

You simply can not be allowed to simply say anything. To many people are posting horrific things on for instance memorial pages , charity apeals etc

Is it acceptable to post graphic accounts of for example child rape and murder on the dead childs facebook memorial , can you post anything ?

Is there no line that should not be crossed ?

 

[exhashdotdot]

Why do you find it hard to believe? Racism is illegal in this country. Just because you are behind a twitter account means nothing, you might as well do it in the street. Also when a case is as high profile as this was, it makes an example.

Other sites are generally anonymous, so almost impossible to track people down.

I don't rate this as absurd, overly politically correct or a waste of the Police's time. I hope he gets what he deserves.

Then how come episodes of South Park are allowed to air on TV? Watch a late night comedy show and chances are, race will come up.

I think your claim racism is illegal is dubious.

What does incitement of racial hatred mean? Actively promoting nazism?

 

[ElliorR]

Claiming freedom of speech is just a way for people with vile views to try and justify saying it. I'm all for freedom of speech but not at the expense of people getting away saying all kinds of crap that has no place in a civilised society.

Some posts on these very forums, since I joined several years ago, have been sickening and I'd love for their posters to get a knock on the door.

 

[exhashdotdot]

Claiming freedom of speech is just a way for people with vile views to try and justify saying it. I'm all for freedom of speech but not at the expense of people getting away saying all kinds of crap that has no place in a civilised society.

Some posts on these very forums, since I joined several years ago, have been sickening and I'd love for their posters to get a knock on the door.

Then you're not for freedom of speech.

I don't want people saying horrible things, but I respect their right to say horrible things because it's the same right which lets people say marvelous things.

 

[Turb3k]

I agree with OP

 

[Fenris]

Regardless of what people say, freedom of speech is freedom of speech. I don't respect what he says but I respect his right to say what he says.

I am all for freedom of speech.

I believe people should be free to say whatever they like, however they should also be free to deal with the consequences of what they chose to say in public. (Yes, twitter/facebook/tumblr is indeed "public)

I believe there to be a difference between "free to say what you like" and "free to be a racist/bigot/etc".

I am free to go outside a stab the first person I see, I will then have to deal with the consequences of that action.

 

[Dmack]

Deserves any punishment he gets.

 

[semi-pro waster]

Then you're not for freedom of speech.

I don't want people saying horrible things, but I respect their right to say horrible things because it's the same right which lets people say marvelous things.

Freedom of speech is not and never has been complete freedom from consequence - nor to the point should it be.

I don't know precisely what he said but it shoudn't come as a total surprise to him if he makes available on a public forum something which would get him in trouble in any other public place. It is worth remembering that being arrested doesn't automatically imply that he will be found guilty of the offence - it may be that his excuse regarding his account being hacked is true or there may be other reasons why he would be judged not guilty.