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Twitter’s court stand is winning the respect of its followers.
Lawyers for the social-media site appeared in Manhattan criminal court yesterday to challenge a court order to turn over the tweets of a user being prosecuted as part of an Occupy Wall Street march last year.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance wants to see account details and communications of Malcolm Harris, a protester involved in the Brooklyn Bridge roundup last October. Harris has been charged with blocking traffic.
In May, Twitter asked a judge to toss the request, arguing that it would force the company to violate a federal law regarding stored communications.
Legal minds aren’t convinced Twitter has a case, but the fight could win the company the loyalty of users who care about privacy.
“This is a better business decision for Twitter than a long-term legal argument,” said Andrew Ferguson, an assistant professor at the University of the District of Columbia. “But what is novel and important is that Twitter has stood up and fought for a customer’s expectation of privacy.”
Judge Matthew Schiarrino Jr. — an avid user of social media who has sent Facebook friend requests from the bench on his laptop — said yesterday he will rule June 30 on whether Harris’ tweets must be handed over.
In April, Schiarrino denied an attempt by Harris’ attorney to toss the tweet demand. The judge said that Harris did not have the right to fight the subpoena. That’s when Twitter stepped up.