News

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4 Nov 2011

Social media users unclear on legal risks

Press Release

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Nearly two-thirds of the online community (63%) have little or no awareness of their legal rights and responsibilities when posting comments on social media websites, according to a new survey undertaken by commercial law firm DLA Piper.

The survey also found that over half (52%) of Twitter users do not consider if their tweet could be in breach of the law before they send it - despite recent high-profile cases that highlight the ramifications of the use and abuse of social media.

The report also addresses how the internet is being monitored and moderated. Perhaps surprisingly given emerging fears of legal challenges, only 6% of respondents stated that they have had a comment on a social media website taken down by a site moderator or owner.

Duncan Calow, partner in DLA Piper's Intellectual Property & Technology ("IPT") Group in the UK and author of the report said: "Social media is ultimately about individuals and we can see that younger generations especially display a more laissez-faire attitude towards the policing of social media. However, recent events such as the London riots and celebrity Twitter scandals may have begun to challenge this perception that the online environment is - or indeed should be - free of regulation."

According to Alec Christie, partner in DLA Piper's IPT Group in Sydney: "While the survey was undertaken in the UK, in my experience the results would be very similar in Australia.

"The survey results raise interesting questions about how Australia should consider regulating social media usage: new dedicated legislation, self-regulation through a code of conduct or more prescriptive terms and conditions, which are enforced."

You can find the fifth report in our Shifting Landscapes series at www.dlapipershiftinglandscapes.com