Twitter sues US gov't over anti-Trump account

[Divine Wind]

This should be interesting for freedom of speech rights.

Wouldn't it be ironic if Twitter ends up banning Trump off Twitter?

Twitter sues government over attempt to unmask anti-Trump account

 

[EverCurious]

hmmm I might say Twitter was in the right here, but I think when the user is trying to play off that they are that government agency they hose themselves.

 

[Divine Wind]

hmmm I might say Twitter was in the right here, but I think when the user is trying to play off that they are that government agency they hose themselves.

Agreed on Twitter. Not sure what you mean about "play off that they are that government agency" since it's "ALT". Unless they are actually impersonating that agency (impersonating an officer is a crime) then they retain their rights as citizens.

 

[EverCurious]

Apparently the folk(s) posting on that account are/have claimed they work in said department.

[Update] Here's the link - Twitter Sues Government For Attempts To Unmask Anti-Trump Tweeter

 

[Divine Wind]

Apparently the folk(s) posting on that account are/have claimed they work in said department.

[Update] Here's the link - Twitter Sues Government For Attempts To Unmask Anti-Trump Tweeter

Correct. So? How does that negate their Constitutional rights?

If some women posted on #ALT_ARMY posting about being raped and sexually harassed then the Army demanded Twitter give up the names, who would you support and why?

 

[EverCurious]

I'm admittedly no expert, I pay lawyers to interpret the morass of legal shit for me, however, fraudulent impersonation. And I'd presume especially when of a government department.

As I understand the DHS Border Patrol, aka the division being fraudulently portrayed, requested the information. While Twitter can, and did, decline to provide the information under the defense of "client privileged", as I understand though there is legal basis for the government to request the information, and perhaps even get a judicial order to force disclosure of said information.

See cite from legal sites:

Under federal law, pretending to be "an officer or employee acting under the authority of the United States" in order to demand or obtain "any money, paper, document, or thing of value" can result in a fine as well as imprisonment for up to three years (18 U.S.C.A. § 912). Like state false impersonation statutes, the federal law also seeks to protect interests such as the dignity and prestige of individuals, especially those who hold federal office. Federal statutes also prohibit other types of impersonation, including pretending to be a U.S. citizen; pretending to be a U.S. officer or employee attempting to arrest or search a person or search a building; pretending to be a creditor of the United States or a foreign official; and pretending to be an agent or member of 4-H or of the Red Cross.