Free Thought Project – by John Vibes
Fairfax, VA — A 12-year-old girl was arrested and charged with threatening her school and computer harassment after she posted a series of words and emojis online that police considered to be a threat. The Instagram post began with the word “killing,” followed by a gun emoji and the phrase “meet me in the library Tuesday,” followed then by emojis of a gun, a knife, and a bomb.
After the post was made, someone reported it to police who traced the IP address back to the home of a 12-year-old student at Sidney Lanier Middle School. When confronted by police she reportedly admitted to making the post, but the police have not said if she told them why she made the post.
The girl’s mother, who remained anonymous, told reporters that her child had “never been in trouble before,” and that she had recently been a victim of bullying.
“I don’t think it’s a case where there should have been charges,” she said.
This is not the first time that this type of thing has happened either.
This time last year, we reported another case where a teenager was arrested for his use of emojis in a post about a friend of his who was arrested.
Bradley Shear, a lawyer who focuses on social media law, told Mashable that these situations should be judged by context.
“It really comes down to what’s surrounding the matter. When someone sends an emoji, it can mean a whole bunch of different things,” Shear said.
“These cases are only increasing. The more people are using their cell phones and posting on the Internet, the more emoji will creep up as evidence in cases,” he added.
Most legal experts agree that in these circumstances it is nearly impossible to determine a person’s true intent by interpreting an emoji, because of the fact that they can be interpreted so many different ways.
Regardless of context, emojis are a form of speech, and people are allowed to engage in speech that makes other people feel uncomfortable. In each of the cases where people were arrested for using emojis, there was never even a specific threat against any specific person, only vague references that could possibly be construed as threats.
“You understand words in a particular way. It’s challenging with symbols and images to unravel that,” Dalia Topelson Ritvo, assistant director of the Cyber Law clinic at Harvard Law School told The Washington Post.
The vague post made by the 12-year-old girl should be free speech for anyone, at any age, but the fact that she was treated so harshly considering her age, shows how insane the American police state has gotten.
John Vibes is an author and researcher who organizes a number of large events including the Free Your Mind Conference. He also has a publishing company where he offers a censorship free platform for both fiction and non-fiction writers. You can contact him and stay connected to his work at his Facebook page. You can purchase his books, or get your own book published at his website www.JohnVibes.com.
Read more at http://thefreethoughtproject.com/12-year-old-girl-arrested-posting-threatening-emojis-instagram/#mpFZz5wdCIAEOQ1M.99
“Most legal experts agree that in these circumstances it is nearly impossible to determine a person’s true intent by interpreting an emoji, because of the fact that they can be interpreted so many different ways.”
Which means the so-called ‘government’ will interpret them in the most criminally chargeable manner possible.
“… the fact that she was treated so harshly considering her age, shows how insane the American police state has gotten.”
Criminally insane.
Removing our 2nd amendment right
Almost from the womb
These arrests and charges in children are nothing more than conditioning , and removal of future rights
I think it’s going to backfire on the police state. When people feel like they’re “damned if they do, damned if they don’t,” then they just might decide to “do.” People can only be pushed so hard before some of them begin to push back.
If there’s any doubt that a threat was intended, then she’s automatically “not guilty.” At least that’s how it worked back when this was America we were living in.
I wonder if the pigs who arrested her were members of a Tactical Mobile Armored Strike Force. They must be very proud of themselves for accomplishing such a high-risk mission. Fking wannabe-warrior poseurs.
I’m surprised she’s not being charged as an adult.
Its a felony now for “Inducing Panic” don’t cha know.
Luckily we’re protected by our “Community Caretakers”.
Now she can be a “Prohibited Person” and can’t possess a firearm.
What a country.
Jew SA ..Jew SA..Jew SA….!
None of this will ever stop until the ‘jews’ are removed from all positions of power/finance.
That is the mission for a free america. No leaders required. Just a common desire to rid america of these psychopathic death-cult ‘jews’ that get off on your misery.
Remember, they’re the lowest percentage of the population, yet they have all the power.
-flek