First person arrested for warning about radar locations via WhatsApp

A few days ago this news broke and several media outlets quickly picked it up, reporting the arrest of a man from Pontevedra for warning about radar locations via WhatsApp. However, the story is not exactly as it was told, according to other media outlets that have cross-checked the news.

In reality, it seems that he was arrested on suspicion of a alleged offence of disclosure of secrets, since he sent via WhatsApp a screenshot of a programme showing the radars set up that day and the officers who were going to carry out the operation. In other words, he was not arrested simply for warning about a radar via WhatsApp.

The Investigating Court No. 1 of Pontevedra has opened proceedings and for the moment everything is under judicial secrecy. Even so, the Guardia Civil have commented that they are very concerned about the proliferation of warnings via social networks and WhatsApp about the different checkpoints the force carries out.

In other words, at this rate and in a country where legislation is rushed through in the heat of the moment, it would not be surprising if in a short time there were a specific law prohibiting this kind of conduct. What do you think about the subject? Is warning about checkpoints via social networks or WhatsApp really that serious? Tougher measures against these behaviours, or not? Personally, I consider that the various Twitter accounts that warn about radars are not doing anything wrong, although warning about checkpoints via social networks is another matter. There, of course, the effectiveness of the checkpoint is completely lost; warning about a radar so that people slow down at that point is one thing, but drunk driving and escaping a checkpoint thanks to these warnings is another. Either way, that is just my personal opinion.

Via | Faro de Vigo