LEGAL RISKS SURROUNDING TWITTER
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Defamatory tweets – if a tweet lowers a person’s standing in the estimation of right-thinking members of society it will breach the law of libel.
Harassing tweets – tweets that a reasonable person would conclude could cause alarm or distress might amount to harassment.
Threatening tweets – generally, an intention to cause harm or intimidation might break either criminal or civil laws. Impersonating tweets – misleading or giving an untrue representation as to a person’s identity on Twitter could amount to fraud. Tweets revealing personal or confidential information – tweets revealing personal details about another person without their consent might breach data protection laws. Copied tweets – a tweet that reproduces the work of another without consent will offend copyright law, if that work gives evidence of another’s creative choices in arranging words, images or sounds. Malicious tweets – false tweets with the intention of injuring another’s commercial interests, or recklessness as to the truth, will amount to malicious falsehood.
Menacing tweets – if a tweet could create fear or apprehension in the minds of anyone who might reasonably be expected to see it, then it could be considered a menace. Deceptive tweets – is the tweet deceptive in nature or likely to deceive?