if you're curious, the results of this were very predictable given the content of canadian law. it's the fear thing that's key. the article actually explains it fairly well...

this sets the precedent. these are the rules. it's a pretty trivial jump from the abstract to the concrete - there was very little ambiguity in how the law should have been applied - but there it is, nonetheless.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/twitter-harassment-trial-verdict-1.3415112