1. Social Media and the Law

2. Social Media and the Law
Lesson Objectives
Consider different types of online behaviour and whether they are acceptable or not.
Understand the possible offences that can be committed online and apply these to case studies.
Explore the importance of freedom of expression in social media. 2
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3. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
Facebook is now used by half the world’s online users
A True
B False 3
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4. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
What percentage of adults in the UK use a smartphone?
A 52%
B 32%
C 72% 4
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5. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
Which social media site is used by a third of social networkers?
B Twitter
D WhatsApp 5
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6. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
Facebook makes money from selling your personal data to third parties
A True
B False 6
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7. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
You can be prosecuted for something you post on Twitter
A True
B False 7
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8. Social Media Usage Quiz
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Usage Quiz
Snapchat photos cannot be saved
A True
B False 8
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9. What do you think? A B C D 9 Social Media and the Law
A senior sports chairman Tweets that the captain of a national cricket team has been fixing matches. B
Two members of the public post and circulate pictures of two murderers online despite there being a court ban on publishing anything revealing their identity. C
A pop star’s manager tweets, upon hearing that the pop star won’t be nominated this year for a Grammy, that ‘the Grammys have blown it big time.’ D
A frustrated man posts on Facebook that he will ‘blow up’ his local airport, after his flight is cancelled due to snow. 9
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10. What do you think? E F G H I 10 Social Media and the Law
A juror contacts the defendant in the trial she is sitting on by Facebook. F
A man posts images on Facebook and YouTube which mock people who have committed suicide. G
A boy of 15 posts a racist tweet about a footballer. H
A Welsh football player posts a homophobic message about
an Olympic diver on twitter. I
A man post pictures of victims body after Grenfell Tower fire. 10
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11. What do you think? Case Studies 11 Social Media and the Law
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12. Social Media and the Law
What’s the offence?
Do you think the people in the case studies have broken the law?
Why? 12
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13. Social Media and the Law
Social Media Offences
Grossly Offensive Comments under the Malicious Communications Act 1998
In other words, this is saying very outrageous and nasty things about a sensitive issue. 13
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14. Social Media Offences Defamation
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Offences
Defamation
Defamation is when someone makes comments that are untrue or unjustified, which are damaging to a person’s reputation. Defamation is broken down into:
Libel
Written comments
Slander
Spoken comments 14
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15. Social Media Offences Threats under the Communications Act 2003
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Offences
Threats under the Communications Act 2003
Writing ‘menacing electronic communication’. In other words, writing something that might scare someone and make them think you are going to hurt them. 15
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16. Social Media Offences Contempt of court
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Offences
Contempt of court
Contempt of court covers any actions which undermine or could undermine the course of justice and the procedures designed to deal with them. 16
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17. Grossly offensive comments
Social Media and the Law
Social Media Offences
Your task is to put the scenario discussed into the following categories:
No Offence
Grossly offensive comments
Defamation
Threats
Contempt of court
Mocking Images
Disappointed Pop Star
Revealing Identities
Match Fixing Accusation
Airport Threat
Racist Tweet
Homophobic Tweet
Jury Contact
Grenfell Tower 17
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18. Matching Activity 18 Social Media and the Law Outcome Case
Match Fixing Accusation
Revealing Identities
Racist Tweet
Jury Contact
Airport Threat
Mocking Images
Grenfell Tower
Outcome
Jailed for eight months
Damages (Money) £90,000
Cautioned
Jailed for 18 weeks
Found not guilty on appeal to the High Court. Originally found guilty and fined £385.
Nine month jail sentence suspended for 15 months
Jailed for 3 months 18
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19. Protecting Freedom of Expression
Social Media and the Law
Protecting Freedom of Expression
What does ‘freedom of expression’ mean?
Freedom of expression is a human right under Article 10 of European Convention on Human Rights, this was brought into law in England and Wales through the Human Rights Act 1998.
This right allows us to make almost any comments we want no matter how rude or upsetting. This includes expression through writing and images, published or broadcast.
The Human Rights Act however does put some limits on freedom of expression such as hate speech and threats to national security. 19
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20. Protecting Freedom of Expression
Social Media and the Law
Protecting Freedom of Expression
Discuss the arguments on the worksheet and decide whether each is ‘for’ or ‘against’ being able to restrict social media 20
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21. Social Media and the Law
Plenary
What types of online behaviour might lead to you being taken to court?
When do you think people are most likely to be taken to court for posts they make?
What surprised you the most from what we discussed today?
Is there anything we discussed that you totally agree/disagree with? 21
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22. Social Media and the Law
The Case of Logan Paul
Logan Paul is a 22 year old Vlogger from America.
He currently has nearly 17 million subscribers on YouTube, many of whom are teenagers.
In 2018 Forbes magazine stated that he earned up to £700,000 ($1 million) a month through advertising deals. 22
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23. Social Media and the Law
The Case of Logan Paul
On 31st December 2017 he faced huge backlash around the world for posting a highly controversial video which showed a man who had committed suicide hanging from a tree in forest in Japan.
Approximately 24 hours after he posted the video Paul deleted it and subsequently issued an apology on Twitter.
During the 24 hours it was online it was viewed more than a million times. 13
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24. Social Media and the Law
The Case of Logan Paul
Paul stated that the aim of the video was educational. "The idea was to shock and show the harsh realities of suicide and get people talking about something that I don't think people are talking about much."
He admits that he made a huge error in judgement uploading it.
Since posting the video he has pledged £700,000 to suicide prevention groups. 24
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