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

YouTube

Tags: Canada, G20, G20 policing

Bubbles

A. Josephs HAS NO CHANCE IN HELL. I say, bring it. If the TPS has any brains, fire this bully immediately. OR SHUT HIM THE F*CK UP!
Sigh

It may be time for his superior officer to have a talk with him.

JonB

Yeah they've probably had lengthly discussions as to how much paid time-off he'll need for his case…
Legion

And who would that be? Officer Balloon?

West Wind

I watched Office Bubbles on television. I witnessed the callous and threatening manner he displayed toward that innocent young lady. Officer Bubbles is a disgrace to the uniform. He is a bully, a whiner and he should be terminated immediately. We don't need human refuse like that in the TPS. Man-up Wanker Bubbles…resign and be gone.

N.S

Innocent young lady???? She was S**T disturber…not innocent at all. You forget that she did get arrested and not by Adam and not for blowing bubbles. And that end of the doctored clip…she looked very pleased with herself while being in handcuffs and getting into the police van. I think Adam showed alot of restraint towards the situation…more than what most people would have given the circumstances. He has 20 years of impeccable service and not to mention that he did absolutely nothing wrong in the video so there's no reason for him to be terminated. If anything, he's still out there doing his job. You guys insulting him are the real bullies as are the cowards that are sending him death threats. Leave the guy alone…he was doing his job in a very tense and volatile environment. he doesn't deserve any of this backlash.

Avrohom Bilgrei

Police don't have a right to anonymity when wearing a "uniform" in service to the citizenry!
He got what he deserves!
He abused his authority, the individual abused their "anonyimity" and should be called to task, and perhaps be fined.
That being said, the issue of overt or covert is something that should be respected, the officer in the process of "serving the public" abused his overt OBLIGATION as is so often the case with cops.
His detractors gave him his come upins!
Had he comported himself in the first place properly no defamation could have been acrued, particularly since no manipulation or deception in the process of filming was suggested.

alan c

whats with the big words haaa

Kevin

He had a sufficiency of clear writing so was eschewing the simple…..

Concernedtaxpayer

I think I agree with Avrohom. But Im still looking up definitions. Two thumbs up for the grammar and usage. A+++++++ In all seriousness, he shouldnt be wearing a badge. Too much of this crap is happening and we are allowing individuals to get away with it. Time to start ridding America of this abuse of power and display of ignorance.

griffin

Prior to launching his lawsuit, he was going after 24 commentors, that he believes defamed him. Now that this story, will be carried in most national newspapers, expect that list to grow to thousands, as others comment on Officer Bubbles, aka Adam Josephs.
Diogenes54

Officer Bubbles would probably be happy just to get the names and addresses of the posters so he could, uh…, go talk to them.
Selena

An obvious misuse of the power with the uniform. Ridiculous! assault charge if bubbles touch me?
RunningGag

It is officers like Mr. Bubbles that give good officers a bad name. And, unfortunately for Officers Bubbles, this lawsuit is simply going to make things worse for him.

Mike T.

It's officers like the ones that drive native children to the outskirts of prairie cities in the middle of winter that give officers a bad name. This guy just makes them look like dumb pompous oafs.

MostlyCivil

"Brings into question the anonymity of online commentators"

On the plus side, it might reduce the number of comments on a mark Steyn thread…
DerekPearce

If he thinks this won't make things worse for him, he's living in a bubble.

D.D.S

Methinks his bubble is about to burst….

Kat

Who's paying his legal bills?
JonB

Same people that are keeping his seat warm for him while he continues to make a mockery of himself and his police service. His union perhaps? Serve and protect…yourselves right?
Poll

[polldaddy 3945636 http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/3945636/ polldaddy]
Patchouli

He's a bully in a uniform. Bubbles the Bully.
prooffreader

Officer Bubbles is incredibly puerile. If he owns a dictionary, he's welcome to sue me. I'll even volunteer my identity.
rrww

The poster boy for bully. Run him out of the police.

where are hie superiors and fellow officers?
s_c_f

I've met a few police officers like Bubbles: arrogant, condescending, bullying and superior. Lacking the understanding that the police are intended to serve the people, not to lord over us. Bubbles deserves to lose this lawsuit. Whatever has happened to him, he brought onto himself.
jean poutine

Officer bubbles must have been one of those under-priviledged kids who had to use the cats litter box as a sand box.
guest

Threatened by a chick blowing bubbles?
And now he's going to shut down the internet?
This Bubbles guy is touching… he really should take a long vacation.
I must scream

The crazy thing is that Kelly McParland from the national post and some other whackos agree with the guy. That is scary.

We need changed laws to make it clear anonymous speech is protected and also, defamation laws need to be rendered more toothless so they cannot be used as a club by the privileged (like this poor, poor officer 'bubbles) against the poor.
Mike T.

The lawsuit will end after the stuff is taken off the net.

Meany

ahahahaha.

Sueing to get something taken off the net?
The internet responds to things like this as damage that it must route around. It responds to things like this by copying said stuff 1000000 times and posting it everywhere.

In fact, it's already happened. The stuff was taken off the net by the original poster. And then 100 other posters put it back on youtube 100 times over, and on every other video sharing site you can shake a stick at too. It's true, google it. What was once a Toronto phenomenon viewed by a a thousand people is now all over the world, and has been viewed by 50k a day now.

Way to go, Officer Bubbles' lawyer. Next time, refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect
If anything, I think Officer Bubbles should sue his lawyer for making a bad situation WORSE.

BNA act

The video, and the reaction from "Bubbles" illustrate what a bully and an A-hole he truly is… Power trip much?
barkingspiders

Police and everyone else should acknowledge the technology available and act accordingly. Cheap video cameras capable of direct upload to YouTube or any account eliminate law enforcements ability to prevent their actions from being recorded and viewed by both the general public and their peers. And abuse of wire laws in some States has failed to prevent this phenomenon, Mr. Bubbles and his ilk should take note when they attempt to move their threatening behavior into the legal arena.

The Blue Wall of Silence can remain silent in these cases, the reality is there for all to see.
seahare

Knowing how it can be in any job, I'd imagine Officer Bubbles is getting more contempt from his fellow workers than he is from the internet. Heck, maybe his colleagues are using the internet to have a go at him for his childish behaviour. "Mommie, Johnnie touched me. Make him stop. Mommie, Johnnie's looking at me funny. Poke his eyes out. Waaaahhhhhh."

As much as police forces try to embrace diversity, the actual forces are still male-dominated, testosterone fueled. Whinging about possibly being hit by a bubble…. "girlish" behaviour and you can bet he's getting more than his share of comments and jokes made at his expense. At this point, he *needs* that 1.2 million so he can retire from the force. I doubt anyone wants to be partnered with such a cry baby.

I wonder if he's assigned to Precinct 51.
Meany

I THINK Officer Bubbles is a total Jackass.

ps – Since I said "I THINK", and I didn't portray the Jackassery as a statement of fact, rather as an opinion, I'm legally covered, right??

pps – As much as I THINK Officer Bubbles is a Jackass, I also THINK that Bubble Girl wasn't really acting like a model citizen either. Some random hippie blowing bubbles at me would probably annoy me too. But I don't have a badge. To quote the great philosopher Peter Parker, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility.