Categories: Need to know

'Officer Bubbles' files $1.2 million lawsuit against YouTube

Brings into question the anonymity of online commentators

by macleans.ca on Monday, October 18, 2010 11:53am - 0 Comments

Known as “Officer Bubbles,” Toronto Police Constable Adam Josephs—who earned the nickname after a video was posted on YouTube that showed him threateing a G20 protester blowing bubbles at him—has filed a $1.2-million lawsuit against video sharing site. Josephs is seeking $1.2 million in damages, and the identity of the user who posted cartoons in reaction to the original viral video, as well as those of 24 other commentators who he says defamed him. The cartoon versions of the original footage depicts a policeman wearing a name badge reading “A. Josephs” going on an arresting spree, targeting Santa Claus and U.S. President Barack Obama, among others. If the cartoon was intended to criticize overzealous police force during the G20 this summer, this lawsuit may illuminate what some see as abuse of anonymity granted to online commentators.

National Post

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Tags: Canada, G20, G20 policing

N.S

That girl is an idiot…she was NOT blowing bubbles to be "cute" or "lighten the mood" as she claims…she clearly wanted to be disrespectful and bait the police. If any random person on the street came up to any one of you and started blowing bubbles in your faces, you would do worst than what Adam did. You also didn't see the part where the female officer asked little Winkel Bitch numerously to cut it out and yet she continued. Protesters are complainers, that's what they do, most of them are punks and low lives and that is why they have the time to cause chaos on the streets. It never occurred to them to them to stop whining and becoming a productive member of our society. No, instead, they feel like the world owes them something and destroy property to prove a non-existing point. Most of them protest without even knowing what they are protesting. Instead of making uneducated comments about a situation that none of you know about…get to know facts and contexts and then maybe you're allowed to have an opinion.
I think this whole situation has been blown way out of proportion and an officer that was simply doing his job is being hung for absolutely no reason. Perhaps the color of his skin has something to do with it. Had Adam been a white officer…this public scrutiny would not be happening. Black officer, white protester…hmmmm….maybe that's the real issue. There were video of white officers beating protesters and yet no one's talking about that…those videos have not gone viral, there are no cartoons about them. I wonder why?????
As for the “Collecting Human Garbage” on his facebook page…if you do something to get yourself arrested…you ARE human garbage. Most regular law abiding citizens are not offended by that comment because it doe not apply to them. If you find yourself insulted by that statement than it says more about you than about him. Personally, I thought it was hilarious.

You all can hate on him as much as you want but at the end of the day…he’s still out there doing his job with his head held high.
And if you think that your opinions are going to hold him down…you’re as diluted as the Winkel chick.
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N.S

That girl is an idiot…she was NOT blowing bubbles to be "cute" or "lighten the mood" as she claims…she clearly wanted to be disrespectful and bait the police. If any random person on the street came up to any one of you and started blowing bubbles in your faces, you would do worst than what Adam did. You also didn't see the part where the female officer asked little Winkel Bitch numerously to cut it out and yet she continued. Protesters are complainers, that's what they do, most of them are punks and low lives and that is why they have the time to cause chaos on the streets. It never occurred to them to them to stop whining and becoming a productive member of our society. No, instead, they feel like the world owes them something and destroy property to prove a non-existing point. Most of them protest without even knowing what they are protesting. Instead of making uneducated comments about a situation that none of you know about…get to know facts and contexts and then maybe you're allowed to have an opinion.
I think this whole situation has been blown way out of proportion and an officer that was simply doing his job is being hung for absolutely no reason. Perhaps the color of his skin has something to do with it. Had Adam been a white officer…this public scrutiny would not be happening. Black officer, white protester…hmmmm….maybe that's the real issue. There were video of white officers beating protesters and yet no one's talking about that…those videos have not gone viral, there are no cartoons about them. I wonder why?????
As for the “Collecting Human Garbage” on his facebook page…if you do something to get yourself arrested…you ARE human garbage. Most regular law abiding citizens are not offended by that comment because it doe not apply to them. If you find yourself insulted by that statement than it says more about you than about him. Personally, I thought it was hilarious.

You all can hate on him as much as you want but at the end of the day…he’s still out there doing his job with his head held high.
And if you think that he cares about any of your opinions…you’re as diluted as the Winkel chick.
aAzazello

A person who abuses his public office power can be sued for Misfeasance in a public office. The arrest of the protester was a violation of her constitutional rights because protest is guaranteed under the constitution. The arrest was unlawful because blowing bubbles is not an assault anyway you cut it. So if this officer wants to go to court maybe someone should be suing him.

N.S

The fact is that she was not arrested for blowing bubbles and Adam was the not the one that arrested her. And the definition of assault is any type of unwanted action towards you. If someone throws water in your face…that's considered assault as well. So yes, he could have arrested her but HE DIDN'T

daniel

Me thinks that Officer Bubbles had a hard time being raised on welfare not knowing who he's daddy is
and is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame but too stupid to know what he is doing is going anywhere.
And they hand a gun to these guys.This is the scary part.
JonB

This guy has got to go in my opinion. Hes one of those law enforcement officers who became a cop to demand respect and strike fear into the heart of the common citizen for they're own sick amusement. He should be fired from his position immediatiely. Its not like he won't be able to find a job…RCMP is hiring. I hear they're quite tolerant towards personal insecurities and cases of extreme lack of respect for the public.
Sonia

I also hear there's a job opening at CFB Trenton. Officer Bubbles is demonstrating some of the characteristics of the beginnings of a psychopath.