US top court throws out man's conviction for Facebook threats

STILL UP IN THE AIR: The US Supreme Court ruled June 1, 2015 that a death threat posted on Facebook was not enough to convict its author unless there was explicit intent to cause harm. But the court took pains to make its ruling on statutory grounds rather than address the broader issue of whether such a statement is protected under First Amendment guarantees of free speech.

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court threw out the conviction of a Pennsylvania man who made threatening Facebook statements toward his estranged wife and others in a ruling that makes it tougher to prosecute people for using menacing language on social media. 

The court ruled 8-1 in favour of Anthony Elonis in a case that explored the boundaries of free speech online.