The Internet

Remember when everybody thought that cellphone conversations were intrusive and disruptive? How about the destructive power of the Web on cellphones? Two court cases are in judicial limbo after jurors were found to have done research on the Web and posted Twitter updates about the cases . . . while they were still in session. Since such research is prohibited, appeals are in the works and the outcomes are in the balance.

It’s a poor artist that blames his tools, though, and it’s a poor judge that blames the available services for the actions of its users. Wouldn’t it make sense just to ask that jurors check their phones at the door? Theaters used to hold doctor’s pagers at the box office to avoid interrupting the performance. Surely the legal system warrants the same treatment granted “The Producers.”

cellphones, Twitter

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