Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty, Guilty.
Fifteen charges and all Guilty.
I am referring to the case of a New Jersey/USA student who was on trial for spying on his roommate with a webcam and then using the usual social tools to spread the word and share the view.
The roommate committed suicide – the trial wasn’t really about that; there was no charge for the death – but it clearly was about that: Unintended consequences made the charges that much more real…if you will.
Sadly – the verdict will not bring back the dead – but it might drive a stake in the endlessly shifting sands where law meets technology.
I’ve written about this before – accountability for posting, accountability for sharing, accountability for what we say online – or anywhere for that matter.
Anonymity is not acceptable unless you are in fear of your life – hiding behind some vague notion of liberty and freedom of speech while you deny others theirs is absurd – yet it is accepted by many….
Read the story of the trial – youth, freedom of speech, digital openness and social liberty are not excuses – this may or may not be a landmark – I hope it is…
Bottom line, we cannot allow people to harm others because they have convinced themselves they have a right…listen:
“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.”
Voltaire
Gotta love Voltaire.
Also interesting how the digital footprint was used – card swipes, surveillance cameras, computer usage, twitter feeds – wild – if that isn’t a lesson, I don’t know what is.
Read the case – how would you have voted had you been on the jury…?
WHAT DO YOU THINK???
