Scottish Police Threaten to Show Up at the Homes of People Who Aren’t Nice Online

Scotland’s Glasgow Police posted a tweet on Friday threatening to show up at the homes of people who post mean or unnecessary things online.

First of all, I’m not sure that any tweet has ever been “necessary.” Second of all, this whole thing is not only an outrageous overreach, but also completely stupid. After all, everyone knows that if you don’t want to see unkind or unnecessary things, you’d be better off looking pretty much anywhere but social media.

The Daily Mail is reporting that the Glasgow Police is facing massive backlash over the tweet. For example, one user tweeted them picture of a dog on a skateboard asking them whether or not it qualified as “necessary.” Others pointed out that the police’s attempt to control online thought and speech was downright terrifying.

But should any of this really be that surprising? Just this year, Lena Dunham announced that she was quitting Twitter until it became a “safe space” for women — and many people praised her for it. What the Glasgow Police threatened to do here is no doubt crazy . . . but it’s also kind of, you know . . . exactly what people have been asking for.