Following the devastating bush fires in Victoria, Australia, an alleged arsonist has come under fire from Facebook users that have threatened even lynching. The legal system will prosecute him but the kangaroo court being held on Facebook could have its own legal problems, according to ABC News.
“The creators of internet groups calling for the torture of the man accused of lighting one of the deadly Victorian bushfires could face prosecution for breaching a court order.
Members of the networking site, Facebook, have created groups calling for 39-year-old Brendan Sokaluk to be “burnt at the stake” after he was charged with arson causing death.
The Facebook groups contain photographs of Sokaluk, which is in breach of a suppression order,” ABC News reported.
This is a great example of how social media can go really wrong, and with the ability to spread information quickly it can cause problems that legal authorities may not be able to react to quickly enough.