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When you work in the online marketing industry, you are constantly reminded of the dangers of posting your uncensored thoughts online – a sobering example of just how bad an idea this can be has been reported on in today’s Independent.
When Paul Chambers’ travel plans were threatened by the recent weather, he posted the following comment on his Twitter account: “Robin Hood airport is closed. You've got a week and a bit to get your **** together, otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!!"
In the pub this would no doubt be viewed as a slightly risqué joke, yet online millions are privy to it, and amongst those millions there is bound to be one person who takes offence, gets worried about a potential terror threat and calls the police.
In this case, what followed was a result of misunderstanding, overreaction and a crucial gap in the knowledge of the police officers involved.
On the 13th January the Police turned up at Mr Chambers’ office and informed him that he was being arrested under the Terrorism Act as a result of his Twitter comment. Speaking in the Independent, Mr Chambers said the police could not understand that his comment had been intended to be humorous, and was not a direct threat to Robin Hood airport.
"I had to explain Twitter to them in its entirety because they'd never heard of it. Then they asked all about my home life, and how work was going, and other personal things. The lead investigator kept asking, 'Do you understand why this is happening?' and saying, 'It is the world we live in'."
Mr Chambers has now been bailed until 11th February, pending further investigation. In the meantime, police have confiscated his iPhone, home computer and his laptop.
This entire incident reeks of desperation on the part of the police to ‘seen to be doing something about the terror threat’, whilst at the same time exposing a worrying gap in their knowledge of modern mediums of communication.
However, should the police become au fait with Twitter, should they then begin searching for any potentially threatening terms and arresting everyone who uses the words ‘bomb’, ‘blow up’, ‘knife’, ‘gun’?
Because one person with an overactive imagination thought Mr Chambers’ joke was tasteless, he is now in danger of losing his job, and gaining a criminal record, all over a throwaway comment.
In a culture in which everything is online, it is possible to commit thoughtcrime, and thus it is dangerous to treat your social media account as an uncensored stream of consciousness. If you do, you may end up having to deal with the consequences.
