(The Root) — When a series of anti-Semitic tweets were posted in October 2012, France's Union of Jewish Students appealed to Twitter for their removal. The tweets, they said, violated French legislation banning the incitement of racial hatred. The tweets were subsequently removed.
The group, along with four others, then requested information identifying the individuals who had posted the tweets, and Twitter, which staunchly protects the privacy of its users as well as it can, refused. Twitter was soon persuaded, though, by a $50 million lawsuit launched by the groups.
Twitter acquiesced, handing over the information. BBC reports that the UEJF called the action a " 'great victory' in the fight against racism."
Read more at BBC.
Tracy Clayton is a writer, humorist and blogger from Louisville, Ky.