The Union of French Jewish Students (UEJF) is suing Twitter for nearly $50 million after it refused to turn over the names of people who had tweeted racist and anti-semitic remarks, as ruled by a French court.
The case revolves around a hashtag — #unbonjuif (“a good Jew”) — which became the third-most popular on the site in October, Ars Technica reports. The UEJF sued Twitter in order to get the international social media giant to turn over the details of allegedly racist people to comply with French hate speech laws.
Twitter is based in the United States and used the First Amendment as an argument against releasing names. The Parisian circuit court ruled against Twitter, “giving it two weeks to comply or face a fine of up to €1,000 ($1,298) for each day it doesn’t,” Ars Technica reports.
But the UEJF says the fine is not enough.
“[Twitter] is making itself an accomplice and offering a highway for racists and anti-Semites,” UEJF President Jonathan Hayoun told Agence France-Presse. “Twitter is playing the indifference card in not respecting the decision of 24 January.”
The UEFJ plans to donate the money to the Shoah Memorial Fund if it wins. Twitter has said it will appeal, Ars Technica reports.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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