Attorney General says he could prosecute Twitter users for contempt if they breach court orders

Users of Twitter could face legal action for contempt of court if they breach court orders like privacy injunctions, the Attorney General has warned.

The Telegraph reports that Dominic Grieve, who has the power to fine or even imprison someone who deliberately flouts court orders, has told BBC Radio 4's Law In Action he will act to uphold the law if he feels it is necessary.

Grieve said: “If you’re a tweeter and you’re susceptible to the jurisdiction of our national courts in England and Wales it’s not beyond the bounds of possibility that you may find yourself being brought into court for contempt; and the fact that you're doing it on Twitter doesn’t give you some blanket exemption

"I will take action if I think that my intervention is necessary in the public interest, to maintain the rule of law, proportionate and will achieve an end of upholding the rule of law.

"It is not something, however, I particularly want to do."

People found to have deliberately breached court orders can be fined or even imprisoned for contempt of court.