back to article @UnSteveDorkland Twitter satirist faces 4 charges in US court

The anonymous satirist behind spoof Twitter account @UnSteveDorkland faces four criminal charges in a Californian court for making fun of a Daily Mail group executive. @UnSteveDorkland has been charged for computer fraud and abuse, data access and fraud and for defamation and online impersonation - all for a series of tweets …

COMMENTS

This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. The Axe
    Facepalm

    Streisand effect writ large.

  2. wowfood

    Thats odd

    This is in the USA right? What ever happened to free speach? First amendment rights and all that rubbish.

    Pretty certain if this ever goes to court that'll be the first defence. The second of course being that it was clearly a false account since, who would make an account of themselves called "Dorkland" I mean really, nobody is that self effacing.

    The only real charge is the idea that computer hacking was involved. Without any proof of that though other than suspicions this will get sunk before it starts.

    1. wowfood

      Re: Thats odd

      Just double checked a few things on the first amendment rights. Defamation isn't allowed if its intended with malice. However this seems more sattire than malice, still don't think it'll hold up in court but who knows.

      1. Gerard Krupa

        Re: Thats odd

        Won't hold up in court? Remember this is in California, the state that officially recognises the rectangle as a valid design patent.

        1. LateNightLarry
          Pint

          Re: Thats odd

          @Gerard Krupa...

          California may be weird, but California is a STATE... In the US, states do not issue patents, only the Federal Government in Foggy Bottom, in the guise of the US Patent and Trademark Office can do that. Even the state courts cannot rule on patent issues since they're not covered by state laws.

          It's Wine O'Clock somewhere, but all I can see is this damn beer glass...

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Thats odd

        Defamation vs. Satire.

        Would an American understand the difference?

        1. Chris Hance

          Re: That's odd

          @AC 16:12

          Was that irony? Sorry, I'm American, so I couldn't tell.

          1. P. Lee
            Paris Hilton

            Re: That's odd

            No, irony is when you wait your whole life to make that trip and the plane goes down.

            oh wait, that's not it...

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: That's odd

              > No, irony is when you wait your whole life to make that trip and the plane goes down.

              > oh wait, that's not it...

              Ironically, that's actually the only example of genuine irony in the whole song. It is also ironic that people try to act smart and intelligent by saying there is no irony when in fact there is, they just don't recognise it. Tragic irony indeed.

              1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Not at all odd

      The purpose of this suit is to discover the identity of the person. When that has been established they can sue that person in a different jurisdiction, for example in the UK where there is no "first amendment" and free speech is not at all guaranteed, and drop the California suit.

      1. Ed Fingleton

        Re: Not at all odd

        Free speech is guaranteed in the UK. Don't need a first amendment for that!

    3. henrydddd
      Unhappy

      Re: Thats odd

      As conservatives and the 1 percent gain power in the US, it could end up a federal crime saying anything against

      anyone on the upper 1 percent or is conservative.

  3. Naughtyhorse

    tweets made them feel like they were under surveillance.

    In a way the living in a country with cameras on every street corner didnt?

    i dont know any of the facts in this case but my prejudice on the basis of the presented evidence is that here is a bloke (not yet) caught taking the piss out of someone who has an altogether too high opinion of himself, and no sense of humour.

    what a dork.

    1. I. Aproveofitspendingonspecificprojects

      Re: tweets made them feel like they were under surveillance.

      He's got to cross off the 5th amendment to defend himself by telling the various people not to split on him?

      Sounds logical.

      Why can't he just post a tiny 3 liner at the end of the Internet admitting his fault and promising not to do it again the way the Daily Mail promises never to buy crapperatzi photographs taken intrusively by stalkers?

      Why do I get the impression that certain newspaper columnists are in the wrong business?

  4. Lord Voldemortgage

    Costs

    " costs associated with the computer fraud charges - with $5,000 for example spent on repatching the system that the defendant had allegedly breached.

    Right, because being given a heads-up about a job you have not done properly 'costs'.

    It's the sort of thing they probably pay consultants to tell them, and the work required to resolve it is a normal business overhead.

    1. Ben Tasker

      Re: Costs

      It's the sort of thing they probably pay consultants to tell them, and the work required to resolve it is a normal business overhead.

      Wouldn't it be great to see that as a defence - ACTUALLY I just saved you $100,000

    2. Anonymous Coward
      WTF?

      Re: Costs

      $5,000 to repatch a system! Good grief I feel I'm missing out here...

    3. Anonymous Cowerd
      Unhappy

      Re: Costs

      I think $5000 is the exact minimum "criminal damage"amount required to be able to ask for an extradition order...

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Does the 1st amendment apply to a non USA citizen? As I am almost sure that the account is not maintained in the USA.

    1. tmTM

      USA

      Is the defendant a resident of California, or the USA?

      Do we now have to take all businesses to court in their home town whenever we have a grievance??

      of course they are assuming the identity twitter have on file is real, so there is someone to actually sue here.

    2. Ru
      Holmes

      If you're doing it in the US, you're under US jurisdiction. Free speech and all. This is why accusations of hackery have been brought to bear, so there's no question that NotSteveDorkland is anything other than a dirty filthy criminal masquerading as a satirist.

      Also, no-one knows where the account is maintained, hence the need to discover ownership. But its okay! Because when they determine that it was run by a Brit they can drop the US case because they know that they couldn't possibly win there. Fun times.

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    So, if the owner is made to stand trial, what's the first question?

    "Is this your Twitter account?"

    "Yes, I am NotSteveDorkland"

    "You're Not Steve Dorkland?"

    "That's correct"

    Case closed.

    1. asdf
      Joke

      IPPA Computer: Welcome to the Identity Processsing Program of Uhmerica! Please insert your forearm into the forearm receptacle!

      [Joe inserts his arm]

      IPPA Computer: Thank you! Please speak your name as it appears on your current federal identity card, document G24L8!

      Pvt. Joe Bowers: I'm not sure if...

      IPPA Computer: You have entered the name "Not Sure." Is this correct, Not Sure?

      Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, it's not correct...

      IPPA Computer: Thank you! "Not" is correct. Is "Sure" correct?

      Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, it's not, my name is Joe...

      IPPA Computer: You have already confirmed your first name is "Not." Please confirm your last name, "Sure."

      Pvt. Joe Bowers: My last name is not "Sure!"

      IPPA Computer: Thank you, Not Sure!

      Pvt. Joe Bowers: No, what I mean is my name is Joe...

      IPPA Computer: Confirmation is complete. Please wait while I tattoo your new identity on your arm!

      President Camacho: Now I understand everyone's shit's emotional right now. But I've got a 3 point plan that's going to fix EVERYTHING.

      Congressman #1: Break it down, Camacho!

      President Camacho: Number 1: We've got this guy Not Sure. Number 2: He's got a higher IQ than ANY MAN ALIVE. and Number 3: He's going to fix EVERYTHING.

  7. Daf L

    Anonymous?

    Could it be the case that the information could only have come from someone who works for the Daily Mail Group (or perhaps someone in the industry) and this is an attempt to uncover who that person is so they can be sacked or get revenge...

    Perhaps the trial isn't really the end game - it's more of a fishing expedition?

  8. Purlieu

    Who

    Even if he is Steve Dorkland, he's not Not Steve Auckland

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    F***ing Daily Heil

    How about the scurrilous lies and slander and defamation on the pages of their filthy shit-rag?

    Cries free-speech when their right to talk utter bollocks and poison may be curtailed but goes back to it's fascist/Nazi 1930's roots when someone dares to take this piss.

    Shame on you!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: F***ing Daily Heil

      Quite so. If they'd gotten their wish, that nice Mr Mosley would have put a stop to commentators saying unkind things about people in high places - unless they're the wrong sort, of course

      1. John G Imrie

        Re: F***ing Daily Heil

        That nice Mr Mosley and his lady friends where providing gainful employment for the last buggy whip manufacturer in the world until the Daly Mail got involved :-)

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: F***ing Daily Heil

          That's the son. I meant daddy, though, to be fair, your comments could apply to either

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: F***ing Daily Heil

      I'll just park this epic Mail commentary on the opening ceremony here, in case there was still any doubt:

      http://botherer.org/2012/07/28/the-daily-mail-and-how-an-nhs-death-means-racism-is-fine/

  10. Dan Paul
    Devil

    So understanding the work practices of the obviously "Dorky" is hacking?

    So tell me that someone astute enough to understand, describe and satirize the laughable work practices of a "journalist" or "Execudroid" on an obviously false Twitter account is considered hacking not satire?

    Then I assume the creator of Dilbert would be just as guilty?

    As far as I am concerned, no one from the "Daily Fail" is allowed (or should be) to bring charges of hacking, impersonation or defamation of character; as their record of employment with that company is prima facie evidence enough that they the plaintiff are guilty of the same charges.

  11. Jamie Kitson

    Daily Mail Hypocrisy

    I think it was Private Eye who listed all the shock horror pieces that the Daily Mail had done regarding the unmasking of Twitter users through writs, and now they're doing it themselves.

  12. Jamie Kitson

    Re: Daily Mail Hypocrisy

    eg: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1392029/Council-takes-Twitter-US-court-personal-information-using-taxpayers-money.html

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Daily Mail Hypocrisy

      As I said before, despicable c****

      puritanical, homophobic, islamophobic - fuck it, everything-a-phobic shit-rag. Fuck off and die!

  13. Jason Hindle

    Just to be clear here

    Steve Auckland owns the Daily Mail and he cares about his reputation???????? I think I've just suffered the neural equivalent of a divide by zero error.

    1. John G Imrie

      Re: Just to be clear here

      I think being exposed as the owner of the Daily Mail is what he was worried about ;-)

  14. Crisp
    Go

    If you're going on a job, remember to pack the right tools

    Tor

    Disposable email address

    Gloves

    Crowbar

    Etc

  15. Quatroux
    Big Brother

    @UnSteveDorkland has until tomorrow to tell us who he is

    or we'll move forward with finding out who he is

    "@UnSteveDorkland has until tomorrow to object to a motion from Northcliffe demanding that Twitter unmask the anonymous account."

    1. John G Imrie

      Re: @UnSteveDorkland has until tomorrow to tell us who he is

      Ok I admit it. I'm @UnSteveDorkland

      .

      .

      .

      and so is my wife.

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ping.

  17. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Ironic ...

    ... considering their love of surveillance when it comes to getting a (not necessarily in the public interest) story themselves.

  18. The Vociferous Time Waster
    Unhappy

    brilliant

    Cracking tactic, file it in the US and ask for a trial by jury. Seems like it will invoke the Streisand Effect but actually it will just invoke the Chambers Effect (after Mr Chambers of #TwitterJokeTrial fame) where the cost of allegations and defending oneself is punitive in itself regardless of the outcome of the actual hearing.

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Obviously, journalists, reporters, and media owners should never be mocked, satirized, investigated, reported on, or generally made fun of.

  20. Cameron Colley

    Thanks Daily Fail.

    You have shown yourselves up, yet again, as the hypocritical scum you are. I only hope that a few of your brighter readers decide to take another paper.

    I am also grateful to you for letting me know that Steve Auckland is a pathetic arsehole with less right to exist than dog shit on the sole of one's shoe.

  21. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    It would be funny if...

    ...the "perp" used a throw away email, and did everything through Tor, so that after all the money and fanfare, all they got were some IP addresses of Tor exit nodes hosted by university computer clubs, each on different continents.

    The part that wouldn't make me laugh is tying up the courts with a fruitless endeavour, but until the judges in IT trials themselves gain knowledge of how the internet actually works, I have little sympathy for them.

  22. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Another funny twitter feed is

    https://twitter.com/tftdabridged

  23. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    A public figure...

    ...alleging defamation in a US court is going to face a _very_ uphill battle.

    And all the respondant has to do is cite lack of jurisdiction of the CA court.

This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like