International Law

Newmarket Trial: Criminal Charges Over Facebook Threats

By Garry J. Wise, Wise Law Office, Toronto

National Post reports on a trial at Newmarket, Ontario where a 26 year old man faces charges over threats allegedly made on Facebook against Children's Aid workers who had apprehended his child.

The man had started a Facebook group that included a petition against the CAS.

His lawyer suggests the accused had no criminal intent:

Facebook is an outlet to "blow off steam" and there was no intent by D.S. to threaten anyone, said the lawyer. "People use Facebook today like the way people used to use diaries. They are expressing their personal thoughts or opinions, not an intention to act," suggested Goldstein.

Goldstein explained that even if other people could read what was allegedly posted by D.S., there is still a requirement for the Crown to prove he intended to threaten...

....

Speaking of Facebook, New York Times reports today on the difficulties encountered by those attempting to delete their data from the site. See How Sticky Is Membership on Facebook? Just Try Breaking Free.

According to the Times, Facebook users "can check out any time they like, but they can never leave..."

- Garry J. Wise, Toronto

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Full post as published by Wise Law Blog on February 12, 2008 (boomark / email).