Twitter User Threatening Broadway Attack.

Someone here asked a day or two ago, whey there were Police in riot gear (not sure if those were the poster's words) around the Longacre.

This is truly unsettling. At least the Police are taking it seriously. (I cannot believe Twitter didn't simply comply.)

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Drinks on me for the entire board if it isn't some stupid kid screwing around.

A publicity stunt? Really?

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So I know which theatre I'll be staying away from tomorrow.

I really cant believe that Twitter is not handing over the users information. I think the moment someone makes posts like these the authorities should be allowed the information.

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The NY Magazine story has screencaps of the theatre tweets, along with other threats.
Twitter User Threatening Aurora-Style Theater Massacre in New York Also Threatened to Kill Just About Everyone

I don't understand why Twitter didn't just cooperate, especially following the aftermath of the Aurora, CO tragedy.

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Oh, I think that is a person who needs jail time.

"I don't understand why Twitter didn't just cooperate, especially following the aftermath of the Aurora, CO tragedy."

Due process is why. It's a slippery slope we're on when we allow authorities to just take private information. Where do you draw the line?

"Due process is why. It's a slippery slope we're on when we allow authorities to just take private information. Where do you draw the line?"

True, but it is unfortunate at the same time considering recent events. Even if it is just some bored kid in his basement, these things need to be taken seriously. Whoever posted those updates needs help.

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EDIT: I would like to rephrase what I said about Twitter not releasing the information, as I misinterpreted part of the article. I understand our rights to due process, and I agree it is a slippery slope. After reading some of the tweets in question, I believe some of the statements he (or she?) made should not be taken lightly, even if we weren't in the wake of the tragic events in CO. I don't think our due process rights should be taken away, however I think some situations need to be evaluated more carefully, especially one where someone is making explicit threats. According to Twitter, what would define something that would fall under "emergency-disclosure procedures"?

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Updated On: 8/7/12 at 11:35 AM

A quick google would say otherwise, dramamama. Such threats are known as terroristic. Here's NJ law on it:

"a. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he threatens to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize another or to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience. A violation of this subsection is a crime of the second degree if it occurs during a declared period of national, State or county emergency. The actor shall be strictly liable upon proof that the crime occurred, in fact, during a declared period of national, State or county emergency. It shall not be a defense that the actor did not know that there was a declared period of emergency at the time the crime occurred.

b. A person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he threatens to kill another with the purpose to put him in imminent fear of death under circumstances reasonably causing the victim to believe the immediacy of the threat and the likelihood that it will be carried out."

The notion that people use the logic that "At times like this" we need to abandon due process and abrogate individual rights is absolutely terrifying to me. It is at "times like this"--whatever that means--that the rule of law is most crucial. We don't just change the rules to suit the emotional whim of a hysterical mob.

Having said that, I question whether an individual making a specific and explicit threat of violence is guaranteed the right of anonymity. Recent legal precedent has concluded that someone sending a Tweet has the same expectation of privacy protection as a person who leans out a window and shouts at passers-by in the street--i.e.: None.

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Sorry, dramamama, I thought that would be implied. Here are the possible penalties:

"Penalties for First, Second, Third, and Fourth Degree Crimes in NJ
Generally, the penalties imposed for crimes in New Jersey are as follows:
First Degree involves ten (10) to twenty (20) years in prison
Second Degree involves five (5) to ten (10) years in prison
Third Degree involves one (1) to five (5) years in prison
Fourth Degree involves up to eighteen (1 months in prison
Disorderly Persons Offenses involve up to six (6) months in prison"

Again, this is NJ law, but I imagine most states have similar penalties for terroristic threats.

And I'm in total agreement with Addison D.