Eideard

Twitter has been forced to hand over the personal details of a British user in a libel battle that could have huge implications for free speech on the web.

The social network has passed the name, email address and telephone number of a south Tyneside councillor accused of libelling the local authority via a series of anonymous Twitter accounts. South Tyneside council took the legal fight to the superior court of California, which ordered Twitter, based in San Francisco, to hand over the user’s private details.

It is believed to be the first time Twitter has bowed to legal pressure to identify anonymous users and comes amid a huge row over privacy and free speech online…

Ahmed Khan, the south Tyneside councillor accused of being the author of the pseudonymous Twitter accounts, described the council’s move as “Orwellian”. Khan received an email from Twitter earlier this month informing him that the site had handed over his personal information. He denies being the author of the allegedly defamatory material.

“It is like something out of 1984,” Khan told the Guardian. “If a council can take this kind of action against one of its own councillors simply because they don’t like what I say, what hope is there for freedom of speech or privacy?”

… “I don’t fully understand it but it all relates to my Twitter account and it not only breaches my human rights, but it potentially breaches the human rights of anyone who has ever sent me a message on Twitter.

“A number of whistleblowers have sent me private messages, exposing any wrongdoing in the council, and the authority knows this.”

He added: “I was never even told they were taking this case to court in California. The first I heard was when Twitter contacted me. I had just 14 days to defend the case and I was expected to fly 6,000 miles and hire my own lawyer – all at my expense…

A spokesman for south Tyneside council said the legal action was brought by the authority’s previous chief executive, but has “continued with the full support” of the current head.

In other articles, the council said they’ve already spent about £75,000 on the investigation and lawsuit. No doubt they will claim compensation for expenses in addition to damages. But, as Ahmed Khan says in the article – all the “guilty” blogger need do is declare bankruptcy and the adjudication goes out the window.

Scrooge with a smile

They hoped for sweet success and instead got a bitter brush with the law.

A bake sale hosted by two 13-year-old Westchester County boys was the icing on the cake for a fed up local politician incensed that the teens were peddling their sweets without a license.

Middle school students Andrew DeMarchis and Kevin Graff set up shop in a local park last month, selling cupcakes, cookies, brownies and Rice Krispie treats for $1 apiece, The Journal News reported.

When local New Castle Councilman Michael Wolfensohn spotted the pop-up stall, he called police and filed a complaint against the boys for operating a business without a license…

The newspaper learned that Wolfensohn had filed the complaint last week after receiving the police report through a New York State Freedom of Information Law request.

The boys’ parents expressed outrage over the councilman’s handling of the situation.

“Kevin was so upset, he was crying all the whole way home. He was worried if he was going to get arrested or have a criminal record,” said Andrew’s mother, Suzanne DeMarchis, who was called to the scene.

“These are good kids who haven’t once gone to the principal’s office,” said Kevin’s mother, Laura Graff. “This was a very scary experience for them.”

Life in Amerika.

He should run for Congress. He’ll fit right in with the Republikan Caucus even though he’s a Blue Dog Democrat.

A Lord Mayor has banned the traditional Christian prayers at the start of council meetings, calling the practice “outdated, unnecessary and intrusive“.

Colin Hall, who has just taken over the mayorship in Leicester, said the “majority” of councillors and city council staff were not practising Christians therefore there was little point in having the prayers…

“I am delighted to confirm that I will be exercising my discretion as Lord Mayor to abolish the outdated, unnecessary and intrusive practice.

“I personally consider that religion, in whatever shape or form, has no role to play at all in the conduct of council business. This particularly applies in Leicester where the majority of council members, myself included, do not regularly attend any particular faith service.”

Mr Hall said he was sure his position would be “positively received” by both council colleagues and the public, but last night he faced criticism from the Leicester Christian Fellowship…

There’s a fracking surprise. Few can whine as frequently or as loud as Christians – from a position of establishment and government support.

Mr Hall declined to comment but the Deputy Lord Mayor, Robert Wann, said he was supportive, adding: “We have many faiths within Leicester and we respect all faiths accordingly.

“Equally we respect people with no faith and on this occasion the Lord Mayor has decided not to have prayers and we will abide by that…”

Can you imagine even suggesting this in Congress? Or East Jeebus, Texas? You’d be lynched.

Rock on, Colin!