Guthrie vs. Elliott is an ongoing criminal trial based in Toronto, Canada. Gregory Alan Elliott stands accused of criminally harassing Stephanie Guthrie, following a protracted dispute via Twitter.
Background
Feminist critic Anita Sarkeesian began to receive large volumes of online harassment following a 2011 Kickstarter campaign for the Tropes vs. Women video series.[1][2] One form of harassment commonly decried in the media was a Newgrounds game in which players punched a photograph of Sarkeesian, causing her to appear progressively more bruised and injured.[3][4][5] The game's creator, Benjamin Daniel, who had previously made a similar game about punching Jack Thompson,[3] denied that the game promoted real violence against women. Detractors countered by pointing out what they considered the misogynist tenor of Daniel's statements.[6] Stephanie Guthrie, a Toronto-based feminist activist, was among those who objected to Daniel's game. Wanting to cause real-life consequences for Daniel's online activity, she contacted news organizations and potential employers in his hometown.[7][8][9] Guthrie subsequently received anonymous death and rape threats.
Gregory Alan Elliott, a Toronto street artist[10], criticized Guthrie's actions as "every bit as vicious as the face-punch game."[8] Elliott, who had met Guthrie when volunteering to perform graphic design for a poster, became a persistent critic of her activism.[11] After Guthrie blocked him on Twitter, he continued tweeting both political criticism and personal insults towards her and other local feminists.[12][11] Elliott did not threaten physical violence or tweet sexual comments towards the women.[12][13][11] Guthrie and some of her associates also continued to tweet mockery and accusations about Elliott after blocking him, including false accusations of pedophilia.[14][15][16]
Trial
Elliott was charged in November 2012 for criminal harassment of Guthrie, and two other accusers subsequently filed charges in January 2013.[13] The charge related to one of the women was subsequently dropped.[16] The case hinges on whether the women reasonably feared for their safety.[17][12] In cross-examination, Guthrie defended her continued tweeting about Elliott after having blocked him as being a means of fighting back against harassment.[18]
Reactions
Elliott is believed to be the first Canadian prosecuted solely for tweets, and several commentators believe the case has significant implications for freedom of speech in Canada.[17][12][19][20][16]
Writing in VICE, Sarah Ratchford criticizes coverage of the case by columnist Christie Blatchford and others as being hostile to the rights of women.[21]
A Toronto coffee shop has been the subject of controversy over artwork by Elliott that the shop displays.[10]
References
- ^ Lewis, Helen. "This is what online harassment looks like". New Statesman.
- ^ Watercutter, Angela. "Feminist take on games draws crude ridicule, massive support". WIRED.
- ^ a b Starr, Michelle. "How to make gamers look bad". CNET.
- ^ Parkin, Simon. "Gamergate: A Scandal Erupts in the Video-Game Community". The New Yorker.
- ^ Funk, John. "Flash Game Makes Players Beat Up "Tropes vs. Women" Creator". The Escapist.
- ^ Klee, Miles. "Creator of 'Beat Up Anita Sarkeesian' says #Gamergate is anti-harassment". Daily Dot.
- ^ Lyonnais, Sheena. "Toronto Tweeter Causes Uproar Over Violent "Beat Up Anita Sarkeesian" Game". Toronto Standard.
- ^ a b Blatchford, Christie. "Harassment case examines consequences of Internet wrath". canada.com.
- ^ Casey, Liam. "Gregory Alan Elliott: Frustrations boil over in Twitter harassment trial". The Star.
- ^ a b Niedoba, Sarah. "Extra, Extra: John Tory Talks SmartTrack in London, Back to the Future for the Jays, and a Café Criticized for its Art". Torontoist.
- ^ a b c Blatchford, Christie. "Blatchford: Twitter harassment complainant Stephanie Guthrie says she wasn't 'perfect victim'". canada.com.
- ^ a b c d Hasham, Alyshah. "Twitter harassment trial: Second complainant says accused wouldn't leave her alone". The Star.
- ^ a b Casey, Liam. "First of three Toronto women testifies in Twitter harassment trial". The Star.
- ^ Hasham, Alyshah. "Twitter harassment trial: Defence says complainant shared false rumours about the accused". The Star.
- ^ Hasham, Alyshah. "Twitter harassment trial: Lawyer suggests complainant had ulterior motive for going to police". The Star.
- ^ a b c Nadeau, Jean-Phillippe. "Procès pour harcèlement criminel sur Twitter". ICI Radio Canada.
- ^ a b Chittley, Jordan. "Toronto harassment case may show how tweets can lead to jail". CTV News.
- ^ Cross, Jessica Smith. "Women had a right to fight back, Crown argues in Toronto Twitter harassment trial". Toronto Metro.
- ^ Blatchford, Christie. "New twist in Twitter harassment case". canada.com.
- ^ Blatchford, Christie. "Christie Blatchford: Ruling in Twitter harassment trial could have enormous fallout for free speech". National Post.
- ^ Ratchford, Sarah. "Why Do So Many Of Canada's Women Columnists Write Like They Hate Women?". VICE.