Can A Twitter User Really Be Jailed For Sending A Flashing Image?
Empty Lighthouse is a reader-supported site. This article may contain affiliate links to Amazon and other sites. We earn a commission on purchases made through these links.
The last 24 hours haven't been great for reporter Kurt Eichenwald. After a combative interview with Fox News, Eichenwald went on Twitter to make his case.
However, in the process he upset several Trump supporters -- one of whom sent him a flashing image.
Now, Eichenwald is claiming that the flashing image spurred an epileptic siezure and that he plans to press charges against the sender...but can he do that?
Eichenwald is known to have epilepsy, and he believes that the Twitter user (@jew_goldstein) purposely sent him the image in order to trigger a seizure.
After the siezure, Eichenwald's wife posted to Twitter on his behalf. That tweet has since been removed, but Eichenwald has tweeted about the incident multiple times since.
Last night, for the second time, a deplorable aware I have epilepsy tweeted a strobe at me with the message "you deserve a seizure' on it...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...it worked. This is not going to happen again. My wife is terrified. I am...disgusted. All I will be tweeting for the next few days are...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...copies of documents from the litigation, police reports etc. Once we have the lawsuit filed, we will be subpoenaing Twitter for the...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...identity of the individual who engaged in this cross-state assault. At this point, the police are attempting to determine if this is...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...a federal crime because it appears to be cross state. This kind of assault will never happen again without huge consequences. This...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...individual will be going to court, and he will be paying a price. And if any of you others ever try this again, I will make sure it...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...happens to you. Online anonymity does not protect criminals. Thats why subpoenas exist. You are facing a criminal investigation and a...
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
...lawsuit. So if any of you others think about trying this "cute" prank, consider the consequences. They will be severe.
-- Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 16, 2016
Eichenwald says that he is filing a lawsuit and that criminal charges are likely to be filed against the tweeter. But is that possible?
There isn't much precedent for this type of situation. Although online threats have been prosecuted many times, this situation is a bit different. It will be an interesting case to watch.
Do you think the tweeter will be criminally charged? Tweet us.
Wikipedia