Watch What You Say On Facebook, It Could Lead You To Jail...

picture source: http://www.tribunetalk.com

Freedom of speech is a concept that sounds good but in reality it's not a freedom that we actually have. Don't agree? Think about this. If you don't like the current U.S. President, can you publicly say or write that you'd like to punch him in the nose without being investigated by the Secret Service shortly afterward? Absolutely not. How about in 1996 when Oprah discussed mad cow disease on her show and stated she was steering clear of beef? She had the freedom to share her thoughts right? Absolutely, but not without being sued by Texas Cattlemen.

Eventually she won the case, but the case sent a strong message to those who would dare say something negative about the beef industry because the average person doesn't have the same financial resources as Oprah and would face financial ruin if sued by groups like the Texas Cattlemen.
We do enjoy some amount of freedom with things we say, but don't have the freedom to say anything we please. This is true on social networks as well. To the point where anything posted on social networking sites such as Facebook can and most likely will be used against you in a court of law:

[Facebook has more than 800 million active users—and, on average, they upload 250 million pictures a day to the site. There are no estimates on how many of those pictures people regret uploading, but you can be sure it’s more than a few. The photos taken after a few too many drinks, the pictures that show people engaged in dangerous or even illegal behavior…anyone who’s been on Facebook for a while has seen those images. But it’s not just the pictures that can get you in trouble. 

Maybe you’ve testified in court you were in one place at a particular day and time, but your Facebook page shows you checked in elsewhere. Maybe your child custody agreement limits how far you can travel with your kids, but you post a status update telling friends you’re taking them to Disneyland and their father can’t stop you. Maybe you’re asking for a no-fault divorce but there’s evidence on Facebook to suggest you were having an affair before separating from your spouse. There are all sorts of ways in which Facebook can get you in legal trouble, or be used against you in a court case.] source: http://blogs.lawyers.com

The take away from this blog entry, is use the same discretion on social networks that you would use in your personal life. Even more important, think before you post.

@ITSecPr0