Adam Johnson and the see-no-evil monkey: what happens when emojis turn up in court?

Emoji are used worldwide and transform the tone of our messages and social media posts, but their multifarious meanings make it difficult for courts to interpret them.

By Barbara Speed

When England footballer Adam Johnson sent an emoji to a 15-year-old girl in December 2014, he could never have predicted the level of scrutiny it would one day receive.

During his trial for two counts of sexual activity with a minor in February 2016, Johnson was asked what he meant, precisely, by the little picture of a monkey with its hands over its eyes, sent in response to the news that the girl would not turn 16 until the following November. It was “just a funny picture”, he replied.