Twitter’s popularity is out of control, and even jurors are getting into the act while they’re in the courtroom. This is exciting for people who care about social media, but not particularly conducive to courtroom privacy. MSNBC reports that earlier this week, a Philadelphia juror in a high-profile public corruption case disclosed to his Facebook friends to "Stay tuned for a big announcement on Monday."
The live-blogging Twitter phenomenon has already proven its power to disseminate viral news during elections and plane crashes. MSNBC says that some lawyers, however, are pushing for jury instructions to be updated so that confidential information revealed in court cases remains so.
Twittering Jurors
Courtroom Live-Blogging Raises Legal Issues
Trend Themes
1. Live-blogging Jurors - There is an opportunity for real-time social media platforms to create a secure and private live-blogging tool specifically designed for jurors and judges to communicate within the courtroom.
2. Legal Social Media Regulations - There is an opportunity for legal professionals and social platform developers to work together to create updated legal guidelines surrounding social media use for jurors and judges during court cases.
3. Social Media Privacy in Courtrooms - There is an opportunity for legal professionals to create more secure and private courtroom environments by implementing stricter social media policies and privacy protocols.
Industry Implications
1. Legal Services - Legal services can take advantage of an opportunity to create revised guidelines to regulate the use of social media in court cases.
2. Social Media Platforms - Social media platforms can create a secure and private live-blogging tool specifically designed for jurors and judges to communicate within the courtroom.
3. Privacy Software Developers - Privacy software developers have an opportunity to help legal professionals create more secure and private courtroom environments by implementing stricter social media policies and privacy protocols.