To Tweet or not to Tweet? that is the question.

It also may be a legal question…

In the UK, it seems Brits have their knickers in a twist about Twitter and individual privacy.

The con-flab started when a British Soccer star (identified only as CTB) was having an alleged affair with a reality TV star.

When some Twitter users revealed the identity of the athlete in question, he blew a gasket. He then obtained a High Court order asking Twitter to hand over details of users who had revealed his identity.

The Twittersphere responded with characteristic relish. Within hours hundreds more twitterers (or is tweeters? twits?) exposed the offended footballer.

Now it appears, these online exposers may have broken the law.

They would be guilty of contempt of court under the law of England and Wales and liable to an unlimited fine or even a two-year prison sentence.

Ouch!  Still it appears these tweeting rebels have safety in numbers. It will be hard to single out one offender out of the masses.

Now more questions are being raised about freedom of expression and social media.

There was the case of Paul Chambers who was prosecuted in the UK for posting a tweet about blowing up an airport.  The charge was “sending a menacing electronic communication”.

Is Tweeting really that dangerous?