New York judge breaks ground by ordering Twitter to surrender broad user data to prosecutors

http://ow.ly/cghZo

An article by Robert Hilson posted on the aceds.org website.

This article examines a case where Twitter has been ordered to turn over user data to New York State prosecutors, in conjunction with an investigation regarding the Occupy Wall Street protest.

The article states, "On June 30, New York state Judge Matthew A. Sciarrino ruled that Twitter, Inc. must produce to local prosecutors the tweets and user information of Malcolm Harris, one of the protestors, who is facing disorderly conduct charges. Twitter had moved to quash a prior order by the judge that denied Harris’ ability to challenge the subpoena.

Judge Sciarrino said local prosecutors could subpoena the information instead of seeking a search warrant because tweets constitute a public communication.

“If you post a Tweet, just like if you scream it out the window, there is no expectation of privacy,” the judge wrote in an 11-page order. “There is no proprietary interest in your tweets, which you have now gifted to the world.”"