Let’s suppose you were heading off on holiday and then let’s suppose that snow had closed the airport and your plans were ruined. You might be vexed and then you might post a message on Twitter that hinted at your frustration. Suppose this Tweet read something like, oh, I don’t know, this:
Would you then be surprised to be arrested under the Terrorism Act? I think you might be.“Crap! Robin Hood Airport is closed. You’ve got a week… otherwise I’m blowing the airport sky high!”
Well today poor Paul Chambers was found guilty under Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 for sending an “indecent, obscene or menacing” message. He was fined £1000 and not has a criminal record. For making a joke. Not a very good joke you may say, and perhaps an ill-advised joke too, but an obvious joke nonetheless.
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