From the. Life Files

Don’t go to the tiny Caribbean island of Grenada starting trouble with people online, you may never leave. Legislators have approved a bill which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean making it a crime to offend someone on Facebook or Twitter. If a complaint is filed and a judge decides that the message was indeed offensive the person will face up to 3 years in prison or a $37,000 fine.

Do you think this type of law would be effective around the world?

For more on this story go to:

http://www.thelifefiles.com/2013/06/29/caribbean-island-makes-it-a-crime-to-offend-someone-online/

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Grenada makes it a crime to offend people on Facebook, Twitter

From Alaska Dispatch

Insult someone on Twitter or Facebook in one Caribbean island and you could have a legal problem.

Legislators in Grenada have approved a bill that makes it a crime to write offensive things about people or businesses on social media sites.

The electronic crimes bill is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and brings with it fines of up to $37,000 or three years in prison.

It also takes a tough stand on stalking online, identity theft and child pornography, the Associated Press reported.

Grenada’s Legal Affairs Minister, Elvin Nimrod, told the AP: “We have problems when some use the technology to engage in mischief.”

But, what may seem like a random act to squash free speech, makes more sense when you look at how Twitter and Facebook are used and perceived in the country.

In Grenada, all police officers have their Twitter handle visible on their informs.

In an effort to make the government more accessible and accountable, police cars also have Twitter addresses, illustrating how the island has embraced the platform as a daily means of communication for its citizens.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130701/grenada-makes-it-crime-offend-people-facebook-twitter