A quick PSA:

[theweaselking]

At least three people have sent me the story about the UK couple allegedly arrested, held, and then deported from the USA for something they said on Twitter.

So far, the story is not credible, because it comes from The Daily Mail and The Sun. That's like sourcing a story from "Fox Onion Huffington Daily World News". Yes, ABC has it... sourced to The Sun. Yes, CNN has it - sourced to The Mail.

Until a real source has real quotes, that they got THEMSELVES and aren't just repeating from a source known to invent anything they want to make their story cooler, I don't believe it.

In the mean time, here, have a real story: Virginia Senator amends anti-abortion bill to require men to get a rectal exam and a cardiac stress test before receiving viagra.

Comments

[skreidle.livejournal.com]

Most balanced article I've seen on the topic: http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2012/01/british_tourist.html

[kierthos.livejournal.com]

.... man, they're fucked up in Virginia.

[almostwitty]

I'm not one for supporting the Daily Mail and The Sun but if BBC News (Ob. disclaimer: I work for the BBC) considers the Daily Mail and The Sun to be reasonable sources, then so do I.

And the Daily Mail has a photo of the rejection from DHS in question.

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

That photo appears to confirm that the Twitter comments were a factor, but since it only shows page 1, it's not clear whether that's the only reason for the decision.

[eididdy.livejournal.com]

On another note, this struck me as something you'd find amusing

[publius1.livejournal.com]

She didn't actually manage to get it amended, sadly.

[iblis-kukl.livejournal.com]

[being-here.livejournal.com]

They're actually from the town I live in and friends of one of the guys who work with me in our finance department. Apparently it did happen - though quite how much I believe Sean is open to debate. The Coventry Telegraph covered it: http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/2012/01/31/coventry-barman-leigh-van-bryan-kicked-out-of-usa-for-terror-tweet-92746-30228779/ Yeah. It's similar to the mail. Have no idea if they've actually done any independent research, or if the couple are so dense they can't think of new things to say. Honestly, I have no idea why I live here.

I like the way whoever amended that bill thinks.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I suppose I should clarify: I believe they exist, they travelled to the US, and I believe they were treated poorly and ejected.

I do not, yet, believe that Twitter was the only reason, and I specifically do not believe it to be the only reason because the Mail said it was.

[thornae.livejournal.com]

Schneier's article, as linked by skriedle above, suggests that they were picked out "...based on information provided by the LAX Port Authority Infoline -- a suspicious activity tipline".

I.e. a whole new form of anonymous vindictive behaviour - report people you don't like to anonymous tip lines.

[scixual.livejournal.com]

*attempted to ammend

[lafinjack.livejournal.com]

Before leaving the Senate the bill was amended to allow school corporations to choose to teach several various theories of the origin of life. Including theories from Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and scientology. It's not something the bill's writer, Republican Senator Dennis Kruse said he originally intended while writing the legislation.

[iblis-kukl.livejournal.com]