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Teen's Facebook charge may set legal precedent

PATRICK WHITE

Globe and Mail Update

Latest comment posted at 4:02 PM EDT 06/05/08

Brandon, Man. police lay charge of personation against teen who allegedly impersonated one of his teachers on the popular social networking site ...Read the full article

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  1. W Ross from Up North, Canada writes: Facebook meets the Real World! Its about time!
  2. Darphin Cofa from Canada writes: Regardless of criminal liability, there is still civil liability for defamation and the teacher can sue for damages. You can never be too careful. Is a worthless prank really worth it?
  3. Raymond P from Canada writes: What is the world coming to when you can't believe something you read on the internet? False identity? Impersonation? Factual fabrication? Lies? A quick read of Globe and Mail posts shows that many are impersonating humans.
  4. A A from Canada writes: I guess treating everyone else as you expect to be treated is thrown out of the window nowadays?

    How would that stupid kid like it if we made a facebook page of him and say he still wears diapers and likes watching Dancing with the Stars?
  5. Mike - from Waterloo, Canada writes:
    DT: grow up.
  6. Regina Filange from Dryden, Canada writes: 'In a case that could spark a rash of criminal charges against Facebook pranksters, Brandon police laid a rare charge of personation against the high-school student, whose name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, on Friday after he allegedly set up a Facebook profile in the teacher's name, complete with a photo and biographical details.'

    Since this person thinks it's OK to humiliate and defame someone publicly, his/her identity should be revealed. The YCJA is a joke. Name them all!!
  7. Spring is finally here! from Canada writes: ' Regina Filange from Dryden, Canada writes: 'In a case that could spark a rash of criminal charges against Facebook pranksters, Brandon police laid a rare charge of personation against the high-school student, whose name cannot be released under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, on Friday after he allegedly set up a Facebook profile in the teacher's name, complete with a photo and biographical details.'

    Since this person thinks it's OK to humiliate and defame someone publicly, his/her identity should be revealed. The YCJA is a joke. Name them all!!'

    I agree, but if we name them all - then we would know who to send the various civil lawsuits to. Being that the parents are legally responsible for there children under there care. Maby is the names would be public there would be more interest in that thing called.....
    Parenting....

    just my 1/2 cent..... not even really worth one penny....
  8. DT . from Canada writes: What are you guys, teachers? The kid was having a little fun at his teacher's expense. My question is, what's the problem?
  9. Terry F from Edmonton, Canada writes: Lets open false Facebook accounts and use them to ridicule DT. I mean, what's the problem?
  10. mu mu from Canada writes: Plenty o' nonsense here ... Facebook owns the title to the profile making them legally responsible for damage to the teacher. The kid or parents may be liable to Facebook. The police have no stake in this at all...
  11. Stan L from Canada writes: DT....are you really that dumb or are you just being willfully ignorant to do some trolling?
  12. mu mu from Canada writes: Cool, DT sues Facebook for commercial damage, Facebook has Stan L's
    IP and agreement to the subscriber rules. Stan L is now subject to wire-fraud, damage to Facebook -- go for it Stan ;))
  13. Tony . from Waterloo, Canada writes:

    I am SO adding Kyoto to my Friend's list when I get home!!
  14. Wayne D from Canada writes: While a juvenile prank for sure, what harm was done? Seriously, if the child didn't try to apply for a job, or open a credit card in the teachers' name, what harm was done? Did the teacher really incur any damages?

    Anybody that believes what they read off the internet, without seriously thinking about things, and perhaps, doing their homework, are the ones doing the harm. Sounds like people are saying, 'It's okay to believe/trust the internet, so it MUST be illegal to post inaccurate info on it!' Get real people. It's just the internet.
  15. Gordon Murray from Canada writes: If only people could see the false presentations and know that they were posted by someone subject to the YCJA (less like the YMCA or YWCA with every prosecution).

    Of course 'read Facebook stuff with a grain of salt' goes without saying.

    Perhaps kids can argue that adults basically weren't allowed to present earlier on in Facebook history.
    Adults changed the rules withou consultation.
    Maybe defence counsel argues the behavioUr falls under juvenile attempts at policing 'reasonable terms unread'.

    Certainly for kids registering BEFORE1 adults were allowed on Facebook, there should be lesser punishments for impersonations/personations (?)

    There had to have been such behavioUrs PRIOR adults being allowed being on Facebook (BEFORE2)

    Perhaps there should be at two levels of punishments, one for kids Facebook registering BEFORE adults were allowed and one for AFTER and weary Crown lead might be heard to proclaim:
    'If this is another case of an AFTER / AFTER, the kid simply does not 'walk'.'

    Besides, kids have been hearing and complaining about hearing 'AFTER AFTER' for 'FOREVER FOREVER'.
    It just started again. Listen carefully. You'll hear it.
  16. Southside Guy from Edmonton, Canada writes: While we're at it, there should be a law against people on Facebook (and other such sites) impersonating themselves from 20 years ago.

    Don't pass off old photos of yourselves saying that is what you look like today. Your Facebook photo was when you were 35 pounds lighter, had hair, and had good skin.
  17. Bob McDonald from Canada writes: If this was done in a newspaper - lawsuits would be flying hither and thither. Its time to wake up the Internet. Hold Facebook liable and watch all the 'social' websites change their rules and imporve their surveillance.

    If two subscribers claim to be the same person - play it safe and delete both! Teachers and movie stars don't need Facebook so only the pranksters are harmed.
  18. Jason Thorne from Vancouver, Canada writes: Gordon Murray from Canada, kids were never allowed on Facebook first. It was a site set up for college and university students, and they are adults, not children in this country for the purpose of criminal law (18 years of age).

    I for one would be against people setting up false pages of me. Just think of the implications, wrong sexual orientation, wrong relationship partner, making false/defaming/hateful/etc comments, etc. If people think it is you and add the wrong profile because they believe it is you because of the profile picture and then the person impersonating you starts bashing your real friends, that can cause problems too.

    DT, I am not a teacher, just so you know.
  19. Bob The Builder from Muskoka, Canada writes: More and more employers are checking social sites to check out potential employees. These harmless pranks suddenly aren't so harmless.
  20. Anger Equals Danger from Canada writes: you can pretty much search any celebrity and find a FB profile claiming to be them. Some may be legit, but really, celbrities have people who network for them, why would they require a website to do this???

    My girlfriend's ex husband created a phony account for her and posted all kinds of mean and unflattering things about her and how she wasn't a good mother (messing around, outlandishly flirting, partying, comments about drug use and wanting to get drunk) and tried to use it as foder to gain more custody to the kids.

    so yeah, not always a harmless thing.

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