From CNN
- The Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center is threatening legal action against Twitter
- The center claims Twitter has aided Hezbollah and al-Shabaab by allowing them to use its services
- The center notes that U.S. law prohibits any aid to officially designated terrorist organizations
- A free speech advocate warns of a possible restriction of Internet freedom
Jerusalem (CNN) – Is Twitter aiding and abetting terrorism?
The director of an Israeli legal outfit says yes, and is threatening to sue the micro-blogging site if it doesn’t change its policies.
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, director of the Shurat HaDin Israel Law Center, sent a letter to Twitter on Thursday asserting that the company is violating U.S. law by allowing groups such as Hezbollah and al Qaeda affiliate al-Shabaab to use its popular online network.
“It has come to our attention that Twitter Inc. provides social media and associated services to such foreign terrorist organizations,” Darshan-Leitner wrote.
“Please be advised that (doing so) is illegal and will expose Twitter Inc. and its officers to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to American citizens and others victimized” by Hezbollah, al-Shabaab and other foreign terrorist entities.
Twitter declined to comment when contacted by CNN.
In her letter, Darshan-Leitner noted that Hezbollah and al-Shabaab are officially designated as terrorist organizations under U.S. law. She also cited a 2010 Supreme Court case — Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project — which upheld a key provision of the Patriot Act prohibiting material support to groups designated as terrorist outfits.
