AL Jazeera One Mexican community experiences the very real danger of internet rumours.
Two teachers in Veracruz, Mexico are facing a 30-year prison sentence on charges of terrorism and sabotage. They have been accused of disturbing the peace by disseminating false information via Twitter. In Veracruz, a city regularly troubled by shootings and other drug-related violence, citizens will often use Twitter to relay information about attacks and dangerous areas in the city.
On August 25, the site of armed convoys of marines in the streets led some to believe a confrontation between police and drug gangs might be imminent. One of the teachers in question, Gilberto Martinez Vera, began tweeting out that gunmen were taking children from schools, saying “[m]y sister-in-law just called me all upset, they just kidnapped five children from the school.”
Maria de Jesus Bravo Pagola, a former tutor, picked up the information and helped spread the story further. She claims she was just relaying messages to her Twitter followers.
However, there were no reported kidnappings that day.
Supporters of the accused teachers contend that the tweets could not have caused the mass panic that ensued, pointing out that the offending tweet was sent out at 10:57 a.m.--two hours after parents began pulling their children from school. One local business owner, saw people running towards the schools nearby at 8:45 a.m. Parents’ rush to the school apparently caused more than 25 car accidents.
The government alleges that Martinez Vera had planned to disturb the public peace and had sent out the tweets to cause panic.
The governor of Veracruz has charged @gilius_22 and @maruchibravo with terrorism and sabotage. The government claims emergency services were overwhelmed by the requests made in response to the rumour leaving them unavailable to respond to real emergencies.
The city had experienced several shootings the weeks before, with one attack on a major boulevard, and another of a grenade tossed outside an aquarium, which ended up killing a tourist.
Amnesty International has said that the charges are unjust and that they violate the right of freedom of expression, even if the information that circulated on Twitter and Facebook was wrong.
The proposed 30-year prison sentence may be the stiffest penalty ever faced by offenses committed on Twitter or social media.
Today on The Stream, John Ackerman will be joining the show via Skype to discuss Mexican law in social media.
These are some of the social media elements featured in this episode of The Stream.
Two teachers in Veracruz, Mexico are facing a 30-year prison sentence on charges of terrorism and sabotage. They have been accused of disturbing the peace by disseminating false information via Twitter. In Veracruz, a city regularly troubled by shootings and other drug-related violence, citizens will often use Twitter to relay information about attacks and dangerous areas in the city.
On August 25, the site of armed convoys of marines in the streets led some to believe a confrontation between police and drug gangs might be imminent. One of the teachers in question, Gilberto Martinez Vera, began tweeting out that gunmen were taking children from schools, saying “[m]y sister-in-law just called me all upset, they just kidnapped five children from the school.”
Maria de Jesus Bravo Pagola, a former tutor, picked up the information and helped spread the story further. She claims she was just relaying messages to her Twitter followers.
However, there were no reported kidnappings that day.
Supporters of the accused teachers contend that the tweets could not have caused the mass panic that ensued, pointing out that the offending tweet was sent out at 10:57 a.m.--two hours after parents began pulling their children from school. One local business owner, saw people running towards the schools nearby at 8:45 a.m. Parents’ rush to the school apparently caused more than 25 car accidents.
The government alleges that Martinez Vera had planned to disturb the public peace and had sent out the tweets to cause panic.
The governor of Veracruz has charged @gilius_22 and @maruchibravo with terrorism and sabotage. The government claims emergency services were overwhelmed by the requests made in response to the rumour leaving them unavailable to respond to real emergencies.
The city had experienced several shootings the weeks before, with one attack on a major boulevard, and another of a grenade tossed outside an aquarium, which ended up killing a tourist.
Amnesty International has said that the charges are unjust and that they violate the right of freedom of expression, even if the information that circulated on Twitter and Facebook was wrong.
The proposed 30-year prison sentence may be the stiffest penalty ever faced by offenses committed on Twitter or social media.
Today on The Stream, John Ackerman will be joining the show via Skype to discuss Mexican law in social media.
These are some of the social media elements featured in this episode of The Stream.
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- ¿Sabías q en México te pueden acusar de terrorismo sólo por twittear? Escríbe a @javier_duarte Pa exigir liberación @gilius_22 @maruchibravo
- Translation: Did you know that in Mexico you can be accused of terrorism just for tweeting? Write to [governor] @javier_duarte to demand that @gilius_22 @maruchibravo be liberated
- On August 25, two Twitter users were arrested for allegedly causing chaos in Veracruz, Mexico, via their tweets, which led people to believe that cartel members were kidnapping children at the local schools. The governor Javier Duarte and his government charged them with terrorism, for which they face 30 years in prison. This prompted backlash from netizens all over the world.
- One of those arrested was Gilberto Martinez Vera. Below is a timeline of his tweets on August 25 before his arrest.
- 10:57 a.m.
- #Verfollow I confirm that in the Jorge Arroyo school of the Carranza neighborhood that 5 children were taken, armed group, total chaos in the area.
- 11:03 a.m.
- In response to @chacofdz: My sister-in-law has her children in said school, I don't know the time, but it's true.
- 11:12 a.m.
- In response to @pacopre: My sister-in-law called me a bit shocked, they just took 5 kids from said school, its name is ALFONSO ARROYO
- 11:14 a.m.
- @CM_Sierra02 @pacopre /ojala amigo nunca te toque algo tan terrible como lo que viven estos padres,en serio
- In response to @CM_Sierra02 @pacopre: I hope, my friend, that you never have to go through anything so terrible as these parents have to, seriously
- 11:17 a.m.
- #Verfollow I've been a while on verfollow, when this began, I'm not a troll, I'm from Veracruz citizen who wants a better Veracruz
- 1:11 pm
- @witsiwitsiarana /Respeto por favor,la situacion en dicha escuela fue cierto
- In response to @witsiwitsiarana: Respect please, the situation in said school was true
- 2:57 p.m.
- #Verfollow telever and Adolfo Mota LIE..!!!, We should demand assurance of truth, schools and students
- Thumbnail image: Soldiers and investigative agents check the place where unknown gunmen threw a grenade that exploded on a street in Veracruz August 14, 2011. The explosion killed at least one man and injured three more people including two children, and partially damaging some vehicles, reported local media. REUTERS/Victor Hugo Yanez
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