A high profile Manchester United Footballer who allegedly had an affair with a Big Brother contestant has sought to take action against Twitter and the News Ltd owned publication the Sun, after Twitter users named him, despite the High Court in the UK issuing a gag order preventing his name being exposed.
Big Brother star Imogen Thomas told the media in the UK that she had an affair with the Manchester United Player over a period of time.
When Thomas attempted to go public with the affair he sought and got a media gag order.
Shortly afterwards the footballer was named on Twitter.
Within days, hundreds of Twitter users reacted to the footballer’s bid to find out who was putting information about him on the website by posting new messages online.
The player has now obtained a High Court order asking Twitter to reveal details of users who revealed his identity.
The BBC said that papers lodged in the High Court against Twitter and “persons unknown” request disclosure of Twitter users said to have published confidential details.
The order against the US-based micro-blogging website requires Twitter to disclose the requested information within seven days – or within the appropriate time required by the law in California, where it has its headquarters.
Former reality TV star Imogen Thomas is also facing legal action from “CTB”
Twitter has been resisting attempts by the US government to subpoena information on a number of users in relation to the WikiLeaks affair.
Media lawyer, Nick Lockett, said the legal action against Twitter may not have much effect.
“What will have to be established is that Twitter was subject to the jurisdiction of the court,” he said. While UK courts claim worldwide jurisdiction this has often proved hard to enforce.
