Twitter must now divulge details of members who published anti-Semitic content

Judge: Twitter must identify anti-Semites

Paris Court of Appeals upholds January 24 ruling ordering social networking website to provide information to France's Union of Jewish Students, four other human rights organizations. Decision could cost Twitter up to $200,000 in penalties

Daniel Koren|Published: 06.16.13 , 07:25

VIDEO – The Paris Court of Appeals has upheld a January 24 ruling that ordered Twitter to provide information to France's Union of Jewish Students and four other human rights organizations that filed a complaint against the social networking giant last November for publishing anti-Semitic content.

The Court of Appeals upholding of the lower court ruling means that Twitter must now divulge details of the members who originated said comments.

Video courtesy of jn1.tv

The ruling gives Twitter 15 days to comply, with a daily penalty of $1300 to be added for every day beyond that. Online magazinePC INpact estimated that the judge's decision could cost Twitter up to $200,000 in penalties.

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'Anti-Semitic' flood on Twitter denounced

AFP

Hashtag meaning 'good Jew' has been one of top trending words on French language tweets in recent days, often followed by offensive comments

'Anti-Semitic' flood on Twitter denounced

“This ruling is another step toward making Twitter answerable for its ongoing refusal to comply with France’s laws on hate speech,” Jonathan Hayoun, president of the Union of Jewish Students in France (UEJF) told JTA. “Unfortunately, there has been no progress or cooperation by Twitter so far.”

The UEJF had first condemned Twitter after two vulgar and anti-Semitic hashtags were becoming widely popular in France: #unbonjuif (“a good Jew”) and #unjuifmort (“a dead Jew”).

Twitter had appealed the first ruling in January, arguing in court that as an American company it only requires adhering to American laws and is protected by freedom of speech. However, the French judge confirmed that comments by French users online are subject to France's strict laws on racism and discrimination.

UEJF has requested that Twitter pay $50 million as compensation to organizations fighting racism in France.