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Stephen Fry is 'prepared to go to prison' over Twitter
ACTOR AND COMEDIAN Stephen Fry said he is "prepared to go to prison" over a Twitter joke that wasn't funny.
Fry said he would continue to repost the offending Twitter message, even if it would lead to him facing prison.
Paul Chambers missed his flight to Northern Ireland due to the Robin Hood Airport being closed in bad weather. In a fit of rage he tweeted, "You've got a week... otherwise I'm blowing the airport sky high!"
The message instantly came up on the radar of anti-terrorist police, who raided his home and confiscated his laptop, hard drive and mobile phone.
After the incident Chambers lost his job and a subsequent court trial. He was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of £1,000, along with several thousand pounds in legal fees.
Chambers' lawyer argued that the tweet was simply British humour and banter, but the court did not agree, finding that there was menace in Chambers' message.
A fundraising event was organised on Chambers' behalf at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London, where a number of celebrities lent their support. These included Fry, Al Murrary, Rufus Hound, Katy Brand and Graham Linehan.
Many of the celebrities classified Chambers' tweet as stupid, but they were all keen to highlight freedom of speech and differentiate between a silly joke on Twitter and a real terrorist threat. Speaking of the guilty verdict Fry said, "This must not be allowed to stand in law."
A further appeal at the High Court is expected later this year, according to the BBC. µ
Tags: Internet
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The article reports that Chambers was convicted, but fails to report what offense he was convicted of. What law did he break?
I'm sorry but this just goes to show that some people have no sense of humor or ability to think logically. Granted as a joke it was stupid but frankly a single person with I'm assuming no major criminal record and no ties to known terrorists or their activities posting something on twitter should be taken as venting, something that every airline passanger has felt the need to do at some point, and not a terrorist threat. I mean seriously what sort of retarded terrorist issues such a public and easily trackable warning that far in advance anyway? Hell at best any halfway decent psychologist would define that as a cry for help/attention and not a serious terrorist act.
@Chris
You're probably right but if you told them there was some arab guy hanging around your luggage and you think he might have put a bomb in it they probably would without any negative repercussions. At least until they review the security footage and find out you were lieing. They probably would wonder why you didn't mention it a lot earlier then baggage claim from the start though.
If the security services, courts, judges and jury can not differentiate between a silly little joke and a real threat then that just goes to show how utterly stupid and incompetent they are. I suppose they 'get-off' on things like this. Utterly pathetic.
@Chris
One day 'they' may come for you because you said the 'wrong thing' in the 'wrong place' at the 'wrong time'.
It's called a police state my friend.
@notreally
I think your name sums it up...
Plus you would end up with a large bill and a criminal record by the sounds of it.
I'm wondering if they would find your lost luggage faster you add "There is a bomb in it."