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Internet assault video sparks controversy

11 April 2008 21:10 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 52 comments

Eight teenage girls who assaulted another girl they had lured into a house before posting a recording of the incident to YouTube had done so to gain worldwide exposure. The use of the Internet, and particularly YouTube, which is home to millions of clips uploaded by users, to achieve the goal has opened a debate about how much responsibility sites like YouTube need to take for the content on their servers.

Media experts have stated that sites like YouTube should not get the blame when something like this happens. Furthermore, Kelly McBride, the ethics group leader at the Poynter Institute, believes this video's existence is a good thing in a way. "The fact that the video was shot because they were seeking publicity was secondary," McBride said.

McBride continued: "A crime was committed in our community, and if there's a videotape of it, I want some information. That video was incredibly revealing. It told more truth about what happened than any other form of reporting could have told." On Friday, a judge set bail for each of the defendants at $30,000 while prosecutors said that seven of the girls would be tried as adults for their role in the vicious attack.

"It's absolutely an animalistic attack," Sheriff Grady Judd said earlier this week. "They lured her into the home for the express purpose of filming the attack and posting it on the Internet." The girls now face charges of kidnapping, battery and witness tampering. The arrest report describes how one of the girls struck the victim's head several times before slamming it into a wall, knocking her unconscious.

YouTube and owner Google Inc. didn't comment on the case, but said that the sites' policy is to remove clips that show someone getting "hurt, attacked or humiliated." YouTube itself is generally exempt from any liability under the law, and the video itself is technically not illegal. "There is no legal reason this video cannot be shown. It is obviously distasteful, abhorrent what the teenagers did to the victim, but it doesn't really make sense (to ask), 'Should YouTube have taken it down?'" John Morris, senior counsel with the Center for Democracy and Technology, said.

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Permalink to this article | Topic: Online video

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Discuss this article!	There are more user comments available, read them here
cyprusrom (AfterDawn Addict) 13 April 2008 16:10
LOL! Locked up, but since they cannot be locked forever, should be "fixed", so they cannot reproduce in the future!! [ + quote]
OFI (Newbie) 14 April 2008 5:48
Is there much point Youtube etc removing the video when lots of news sites have it streaming in the news article anyway? Glad the girls are being tried as adults though. [ + quote]
Icanbe (Member) 14 April 2008 9:52
*Originally posted by iluvendo:* We have become a world society that knows not of right and wrong, nor of good and bad, just self gratification (arrogant pride).We have raised a generation of moral less and immoral people. The liberal progressives have achieved their end result. We are in the dharma ending age. It is not too late to reverse this trend. But it needs to start now. Exactly and Amen. Hate to say this, but I look around at the world and think it's already too late, Greed and self gratification seem to be the order of the day. I hope these stupid little idiots get what they deserve, but the sad part is some slick talking defense laywer will get them a minimum sentence or off completely. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 April 2008 11:18
hotdotdog (Newbie) 14 April 2008 12:10
*Originally posted by DSWarrior:* I posted above that YouTube should be banned and destroyed for the sole reason that I actually KNOW people that do stupid stunts, senseless attacks and stupid-dangerous jokes JUST TO POST THEM ON YOUTUBE AND BE WATCHED BY MILLIONS...In my opinion if YouTube never existed, most of these "accidents" or "stupidness", (call it whatever you like) would've never existed. It's like MySpace and rapists...one thing leads to another...it's just stupid. But do whatever the hell you want, thats what I always say... [ + quote]
hotdotdog (Newbie) 14 April 2008 12:13
I've been on this planet for 52 years and it is my experience that stupid people do stupid things no matter who is watching. There is no law against being stupid. There are laws against assault however and the fact that this is documented on video just makes it easier to convict the criminals. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 12:50
What's the problem with this? There's hundreds of other videos on YouTube showing the same stuff. Kids fighting each other and getting beat up. That chick didn't even catch a beating. That was more of a, "Hey, you're a big wuss, fight back!", I mean, she just sat there and did nothing. The media blew this way out of proportion. There wasn't anyone holding her captive. No one was not allowing her to leave. And if the beating was so bad, how was she able to stand there and talk with those retarded girls the whole time, after they where wailing on her? In all my life, I've seen some pretty gruesome beat downs. Hell, I've got jumped before. I was expecting a whole lot more outa this. Not some school yard fight. *Originally posted by gnovak1:* Yea, like that really warrants a 6 on 1 attack. And if that girl had fought back, she would have been jumped by the rest. On myspace, the girl used words and hurt nobody. She did not deserve what she got. Maybe you guys saw a different video then what I saw. I saw two maybe three girls hitting her. And it wasn't all at once. Only one girl actually smacked her around and she should be the one punished to the fullest extent of the law. So whats up with this 6 on 1 crap? Sorry, but if someone is trying to hurt me, I don't care what the circumstances are, I fight back or get the hell out of the situation. "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 14 April 2008 12:55
gnovak1 (Junior Member) 14 April 2008 13:29
*Originally posted by goodswipe:* What's the problem with this? There's hundreds of other videos on YouTube showing the same stuff. Kids fighting each other and getting beat up. That chick didn't even catch a beating. That was more of a, "Hey, you're a big wuss, fight back!", I mean, she just sat there and did nothing. The media blew this way out of proportion. There wasn't anyone holding her captive. No one was not allowing her to leave. And if the beating was so bad, how was she able to stand there and talk with those retarded girls the whole time, after they where wailing on her? In all my life, I've seen some pretty gruesome beat downs. Hell, I've got jumped before. I was expecting a whole lot more outa this. Not some school yard fight. *Originally posted by gnovak1:* Yea, like that really warrants a 6 on 1 attack. And if that girl had fought back, she would have been jumped by the rest. On myspace, the girl used words and hurt nobody. She did not deserve what she got. Maybe you guys saw a different video then what I saw. I saw two maybe three girls hitting her. And it wasn't all at once. Only one girl actually smacked her around and she should be the one punished to the fullest extent of the law. So whats up with this 6 on 1 crap? Sorry, but if someone is trying to hurt me, I don't care what the circumstances are, I fight back or get the hell out of the situation. The whole video was not released. There is a lot of video we did not see so we dont know what happened for those 30 minutes. Fight back? Not everyone knows how to fight. She tried to leave and they wouldn't let her. When you have a room full of girls bent on hurting you, fighting back may not be the wise thing to do. If you just watch someone getting beat up and don't try to stop it , you are just as guilty as the ones who are hitting her. You should be punished also. That's my point. You say you saw 2 or 3 girls punching yet you say only one should be punished? So the others didn't hit her that much which is why they shouldn't be punished? Someone should've called the Police. They all should be punished and i hope they are. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 15:19
*Quote:* You say you saw 2 or 3 girls punching yet you say only one should be punished? So the others didn't hit her that much which is why they shouldn't be punished? Sorry, maybe I should have been a bit more clear. I meant that girl that did most of the damage should be punished more then the others. And that's how the law works, so we will see. Not knowing how to fight? Well, with me that's pretty much an instinct, and it seems like it would kick in for anyone else that is in danger. Defend yourself. I'm not saying she should have done some Judo chops or some flying squirrel kicks, not everyone knows how to box are do some form of karate. Seems like she would have at least tried to bite some of those girls or claw their eyes out! "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
7thsinger (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 16:11
Some of this is absolutely ridicoulous. There's no one to blame other than the parties involved. They plotted to keep the girl against her will, physically harm her, and threaten her with more physical abuse if she told anyone. Blaming You Tube is once again attempting to sidestep the underlying cause, the veracity of the situation, and careless if not sadistic nature of the girls who plotted and carried this out. The fact that they even wanted to take a video of it only goes to show how sadistic these girls really are. Attempting to blame someone, anyone or any entity for their actions is avoiding the root of the problem, in my humble opinion. "Sir, i would not harm thee for the world...but thou art standing where i'm about to shoot." [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 16:14
7th, if you would really love to hear my idea about what should be done with this situation, pm me, it might get a bit graphic! ;) "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
7thsinger (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 16:27
PM'ed This kind of crap really pisses me off. Seems like everyone needs someone to blame. McDonalds made my kid fat. Cigarettes were too addictive. She looked 18. Etc, etc. It's all BS. Take some damn responsibility for your actions. See the situation for what it is. Geez, people piss me off. "Sir, i would not harm thee for the world...but thou art standing where i'm about to shoot." [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 16:34
*Quote:* She looked 18. Etc, etc. LMFAO! Classic... "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 14 April 2008 21:07
In other news the Greatest Person to say get real, bails out those Found guilty. Yep you gest right Dr.Phil, that moron needs to be shot for bailing em out. Dr. Phil, i hope they lure you into a room and beat the living H3ll otta you. [ + quote]
cyprusrom (AfterDawn Addict) 14 April 2008 21:22
*Originally posted by 7thsinger:* PM'ed This kind of crap really pisses me off. Seems like everyone needs someone to blame. McDonalds made my kid fat. Cigarettes were too addictive. She looked 18. Etc, etc. It's all BS. Take some damn responsibility for your actions. See the situation for what it is. Geez, people piss me off. Amen brother! You're in "the circle of trust"! Piss me off, and I Will ignore You! [ + quote]
zorb43 (Newbie) 14 April 2008 21:35
*Quote:* *Quote:* You say you saw 2 or 3 girls punching yet you say only one should be punished? So the others didn't hit her that much which is why they shouldn't be punished? Sorry, maybe I should have been a bit more clear. I meant that girl that did most of the damage should be punished more then the others. And that's how the law works, so we will see. Not knowing how to fight? Well, with me that's pretty much an instinct, and it seems like it would kick in for anyone else that is in danger. Defend yourself. I'm not saying she should have done some Judo chops or some flying squirrel kicks, not everyone knows how to box are do some form of karate. Seems like she would have at least tried to bite some of those girls or claw their eyes out! Too bad she didn't have a gun ... She could have and should have blown their brains out ...THAT would have served them right! [ + quote]
7thsinger (Senior Member) 14 April 2008 22:08
*Originally posted by cyprusrom:* *Originally posted by 7thsinger:* PM'ed This kind of crap really pisses me off. Seems like everyone needs someone to blame. McDonalds made my kid fat. Cigarettes were too addictive. She looked 18. Etc, etc. It's all BS. Take some damn responsibility for your actions. See the situation for what it is. Geez, people piss me off. Amen brother! You're in "the circle of trust"! I won't break that circle bro! "Sir, i would not harm thee for the world...but thou art standing where i'm about to shoot." [ + quote]
ZoSoIV (AfterDawn Addict) 15 April 2008 1:29
count me in too!! [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 15 April 2008 11:32
You guys talking about the Burns circle of trust? "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
7thsinger (Senior Member) 15 April 2008 11:37
Lol. "Sir, i would not harm thee for the world...but thou art standing where i'm about to shoot." [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 15 April 2008 13:27
I have nipples Greg, could you milk me? "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
gnovak1 (Junior Member) 15 April 2008 13:54
*Originally posted by zorb43:* *Quote:* *Quote:* You say you saw 2 or 3 girls punching yet you say only one should be punished? So the others didn't hit her that much which is why they shouldn't be punished? Sorry, maybe I should have been a bit more clear. I meant that girl that did most of the damage should be punished more then the others. And that's how the law works, so we will see. Not knowing how to fight? Well, with me that's pretty much an instinct, and it seems like it would kick in for anyone else that is in danger. Defend yourself. I'm not saying she should have done some Judo chops or some flying squirrel kicks, not everyone knows how to box are do some form of karate. Seems like she would have at least tried to bite some of those girls or claw their eyes out! Too bad she didn't have a gun ... She could have and should have blown their brains out ...THAT would have served them right! I would look around the room and just grab anything i can find and just start swinging. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Senior Member) 15 April 2008 13:59
Exactly.... "look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing." [ + quote]
DSWarrior (Newbie) 15 April 2008 17:01
people are stupid, youtube is stupid and any other site showing the same videos is stupider...burn youtube in a flamming abyss!!! DS Warrior ! ! ! [ + quote]
ZoSoIV (AfterDawn Addict) 16 April 2008 1:36
hell all the news channels are showing it over and over too [ + quote]
cyprusrom (AfterDawn Addict) 16 April 2008 2:48
Well, then "burn them in a flamming abyss too"! Damn'em to hell:~)LOL! Piss me off, and I Will ignore You! [ + quote]
iluvendo (AfterDawn Addict) 16 April 2008 4:02
*Originally posted by cyprusrom:* Well, then "burn them in a flamming abyss too"! *Quote:* Damn'em to hell :~)LOL! That's God's job. If it wasn't for bad luck, I'd have no luck! "The flimsier the product,the higher the price" Ferengi 82nd rule of aquisition [ + quote]