8chan Founder Faces Arrest In Philippines Over "Cyberlibel" Suit
The founder of 8chan, Frederick Brennan, faces arrest in the Philippines over a "cyberlibel" case lodged by the site's current owner. Brennan, who resides in the Philippines but is in the United States, gave up control of 8chan in 2015 to Jim Watkins and has since disavowed the site, calling for its shuttering.
Issued Thursday, the charges stem from a lawsuit by Watkins over tweets by Brennan, according to The Rappler. In a series of posts, last year Brennan called the site's current owner "senile" and "incompetent." "Cyberlibel" is a criminal offense in the Philippines. If convicted, Brennan faces six to 12 years in prison.
In a 2019 tweet, Brennan wrote, "Jim Watkins wasn't aware. Instead of calmly asking them to leave, he freaked out. This is one of the reasons I believe he's senile. Elle told me he gave her producer a bruise."
Earlier that year, he wrote, "If you see conspiracies everywhere then I suppose there's something else to this. Jim Watkins can't just be incompetent, can he?"
Regarding this, I can reveal what I know now that the piece has aired.A maid let @elspethreeve in. Jim Watkins wasn't aware. Instead of calmly asking them to leave, he freaked out. This is one of the reasons I believe he's senile. Elle told me he gave her producer a bruise. pic.twitter.com/nloPdyeIXL
— Fredrick Brennan 🔣🇵🇭✝ (@HW_BEAT_THAT) September 5, 2019
Those sites make an effort and are not run by hyper-partisans. They also have clear rules against inciting violence, something 8chan doesn't have.If you see conspiracies everywhere then I suppose there's something else to this. Jim Watkins can't just be incompetent, can he?
— Fredrick Brennan 🔣🇵🇭✝ (@HW_BEAT_THAT) August 12, 2019
In the complaint, Watkins defended the site. He said:
The exercise of the right of free expression and free speech like any other right enshrined in our Constitution comes with an equal burden of responsible exercise of that right. After all, the recognition of a right is not a free license for the one claiming it to run roughshod over the rights of others.
In an email correspondence with Know Your Meme, Brennan claimed he was inspired to create 8chan while under the effects of psychedelic mushrooms, envisioning the site as a haven for those that felt the moderation policies on 4chan were too restrictive.
Brennan has since disavowed the site, becoming particularly outspoken following a series of violent mass-shootings connected to the site. Last year, he told the New York Times that he's attempted to have Watkins shut 8chan down.
"I’ve tried to understand so many times why he keeps it going, and I just don’t get it," he said. "After Christchurch, after the Tree of Life shooting, and now after this shooting, they think this is all really funny."
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shadow_lepus
Okay. Put aside your feelings about 8chan, no matter what they are, for just a moment. Put aside your feelings about Brennan and Watkins.
Can we all at least agree that the possibility of facing years of jail time for calling someone "senile" and "incompetent" on Twitter is absolutely insane?
mammon
This is the Philippines we're talking about. The country's Cybercrime law is unripe and loose af to the point that someone with money can have you arrested for calling someone a "poopyhead". I've seen this happen many times and funnily enough one of the most notable abuser of this loopholes is the current president itself…
RemChi
The philippines leader is a complete fucking nutjob is what he is, enabled by his crony goverment, giving his police the a-ok to plant drugs on people in order to justify his crusade against drugs.
OppoQuinn
"After Christchurch, after the Tree of Life shooting, and now after this shooting, they think this is all really funny." -- You would think he of all people would understand how things work in that regard. Those people didn't commit shootings because of 8chan, they just talked about it there because it was the only place that wouldn't ban them for it. There isn't a shred of me that believes they wouldn't have just committed those crimes regardless if 8chan wasn't a thing. Violent sociopaths are violent sociopaths, and having an edgy imageboard that allows one to say the no-no naughty things isn't the deciding factor in that sort of behaviour.
RemChi
Brennan is doing this because it looks good and distances himself from the controversy. He's a guy that can't really get a job if his names run through the mud. He cant get one at McDonalds or any other place that doesnt really care about your internet history.