Investigation into McCann internet trolls launched by police

[Jean-Pierre]

4500 tweets concerning one family? 

In her guise as "sweepyface" there would be appear to be a basis for action by the CPS

(2) Communications targeting specific individuals

19. If communications sent via social media target a specific individual or
individuals, they will fall to be considered under the Protection from
Harassment Act 1997 where they amount to a course of conduct within the
meaning of section 7 of that Act. In such cases, prosecutors should follow
the CPS Legal Guidance on Stalking and Harassment.

[Alfred R Jones]

Investigation into McCann internet trolls launched by police

Threats to murder and torture Kate and Gerry McCann, posted by users convinced they are responsible for disappearance of daughter Madeleine, could lead to prosecutions

By Tom Brooks-Pollock
2 Oct 2014




Internet trolls who aim abuse, including death threats, at the family of missing girl Madeleine McCann could be prosecuted as part of a new police investigation.  The Metropolitan Police has been passed an 80-page dossier of hundreds of tweets, Facebook posts and messages on online forums accusing Kate and Gerry McCann of being involved in their daughter’s disappearance in Portugal in 2007, and telling them they should “burn in hell”.  Trolls active in recent years could now be brought to justice, with officers in talks with the Crown Prosecution Service over what action can be taken over the dossier, which was also passed to Sky News.  The evidence was compiled by members of the public, appalled at the campaign of abuse aimed at the McCann’s by the largely anonymous trolls, who are convinced of the McCanns’ guilt despite no supporting evidence.  Posts charted in the dossier include suggestions that the McCanns should be tortured and killed, reports of recent sightings of the couple, and manipulated images of the couple, showing them behind bars or surrounded by piles of cash.  Other messages are directed at Madeleine’s younger siblings, nine-year-old twins Sean and Amelie.  One Twitter troll, whose username is ‘Sweepyface’ and has posted dozens of anti-McCann messages using the #mccann hashtag said that she was “entitled” to attack the couple when confronted by Sky News.

Authors of the dossier are calling on prosecutors to take action against the posters under the Malicious Communications Act 2003, which bans online messages containing threats of violence or that could cause stress or alarm to their targets.  Among the messages identified in the dossier is an exchange on a message board which reads: “These 2 should burn in hell”; “I will supply the petrol”; “I’ll supply the lighter – happily”.  In one of her tweets, “Sweepyface” called for the McCanns to suffer “for the rest of their miserable lives”.  Other trolls claimed to live near the McCanns in Leicestershire, and detail supposed sightings of the family, in the gym or out shopping.

Six Twitter accounts have been set up to abuse the McCanns, the dossier says, with eight “persistent and prolific” anti-McCann activists identified. Dozens of others are said to have participated in the abuse.  Other tactics include attempts complain about the McCanns through Freedom of Information requests, the bombardment of the BBC Crimewatch show message board and Facebook pages. Anthony Summers, the author of a recent book that argues the McCanns are innocent, has also been targeted.
The campaigner spearheading the appeal, who has asked to remain anonymous, told Sky News that they feared that trolls would one day translate their threats into actions. They said: “We know that this is still continuing, that it's escalating at an alarming rate, and becoming bolder and a lot of what they're posting is becoming much more sinister.”

Jim Gamble, a former police officer and online security expert, said: “I think the time has come for the hard-core few in the midst of this group to be investigated.”

The Met confirmed the investigation in a letter sent to the authors of the dossier.
 
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/madeleinemccann/11134162/Investigation-into-McCann-internet-trolls-launched-by-police.html

Just a little reminder of what the dossier is reported to contain, according to the Daily Telegraph.

[ferryman]

There is a fine line on the continuum between straight abuse and threats: prolific production of abuse (in the generic) can be indicative of a tendency towards something worse and can (in its own right) contribute to a state of mind in those targeted that may result in self-harm, or even suicide, just as Kate actually was (perhaps still is!) suicidal.

If it turns out that Brenda, indeed, took her own life, there would be a case in point.  No threats, but the humiliation of being exposed for what she did to Kate, drove her to take her own life.

Similarly, her abuse of Kate McCann might, instead, have contributed to driving Kate to the same, tragic, end.

That's why on-line abuse has to be stopped; and why it is right to take a stand against it.

[faithlilly]

Yet two months on from the handing over of the dossier with its frightening death threats not one arrest has been made. Says it all really.

[ edited ]

[Mr Gray]

Yet two months on from the handing over of the dossier with its frightening death threats not one arrest has been made. Says it all really.

[ edited ]

It seems that Met have already spent 2 million investigating it and so far come up with nothing

[faithlilly]

It seems that Met have already spent 2 million investigating it and so far come up with nothing

Sorry davel you've lost me !

[Mr Gray]

it's Ok to feel sorry for people like Brenda until you yourself have been the victim of online abuse. I was featured in a Tv programme about 5 years ago and a clip has been uploaded to you tube...it has 190, 000 views and some of the comments are vile...if any of these people who made vile comments decided to commit suicide I would actually be quite glad

[Alfred R Jones]

Several prominent "sceptics", including alleged journalist Sonia Poulton follow the twitter account of the person who made these threats - why, if "sceptics" are against threats of violence, do they allow this scary sort of shit on their timeline?

@liesdontwash @teddyshepherd. Maybe Your Dirty Fat Arse s..m. I know Where My Loyalties Lie With a Missing Child. Terrorists Kill #Mccanns. ‐Wed Aug 13 20:48:28 +0000 2014

@larrypkay. Any Terrorists out there i Support the Death of the. #mnccanns. #Goforit ‐Wed Aug 13 20:45:25 +0000 2014

@fakerc @blamedandshamed @mariaccnr. Bollocks id Vote For assassination of Both Parents from Terrorists F@ You. ‐Wed Aug 13 20:28:28 +0000 2014

Is there Any. Terrorists want to murder the. #Mccann parents id support it its gone on too long. #Goforit ‐Wed Aug 13 20:21:21 +0000 2014

[Mr Moderator]

Several prominent "sceptics", including alleged journalist Sonia Poulton follow the twitter account of the person who made these threats - why, if "sceptics" are against threats of violence, do they allow this scary sort of shit on their timeline?

Very good question Alfred, that sort of language is abhorrent and should never be condoned.

[misty]

We can only hope that the case is resolved before those so-inclined move to Diaspora.

[faithlilly]

Very good question Alfred, that sort of language is abhorrent and should never be condoned.

Then can I suggest however posted the tweets inform the authorities of their content instead of posting them on a public forum. It is possible to doubt the McCanns yet not wish them to be the victims of retributional violence.

[Benice]

Then can I suggest however posted the tweets inform the authorities of their content instead of posting them on a public forum. It is possible to doubt the McCanns yet not wish them to be the victims of retributional violence.

They are already in the public domain. 

This thread is about internet trolls, therefore IMO it is appropriate to include evidence of why a police investigation is justified.

Also to query why any decent person would want to engage with people who hope for and incite violence against anyone.




 

[slartibartfast]

They are already in the public domain. 

This thread is about internet trolls, therefore IMO it is appropriate to include evidence of why a police investigation is justified.

Also to query why any decent person would want to engage with people who hope for and incite violence against anyone.

But why repeat them why not just report them? If it were libel repeating it would be libellous.

[Alice Purjorick]

Then can I suggest however posted the tweets inform the authorities of their content instead of posting them on a public forum. It is possible to doubt the McCanns yet not wish them to be the victims of retributional violence.

Very true, however  only a few seem to think so others  preferring to extend it even unto the realms of the ludicrous!

[Eleanor]

But why repeat them why not just report them? If it were libel repeating it would be libellous.

Why have this Thread in the first place if one can't discuss what was said and done?