Trolling under fake profiles is now a criminal offence

[Denver]

http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/internet/news/a785590/creating-a-fake-social-media-profile-for-trolling-is-now-a-criminal-offence/

​Internet trolls be warned - creating a fake social media profile or website for the sole purpose of humiliating, offending, alarming or attacking somebody's reputation can now be treated as a criminal offence in the UK.

That's in accordance with updated Social Media Guidelines from the Crown Prosecution Service, which will help bring online abusers to justice.

Offences including revenge porn, cyberbullying and threats of violence have always been crimes in Britain, but the updated guidelines have added other offences to the list, including blackmail and grooming.

The area covering violence against women and girls has been expanded into its own section, while "controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship" - ie, the digital version of domestic abuse - is another new addition.

Alison Saunders, Director of Public Prosecutions, said: "Online communication is developing at such a fast pace, new ways of targeting and abusing individuals online are constantly emerging. We are seeing more and more cases where social media is being used as a method to facilitate both existing and new offences.

"It is vital that prosecutors consider the bigger picture when looking at evidence and examine both the online and offline behaviour pattern of the defendant. Online abuse is cowardly and can be deeply upsetting to the victim.

The new guidelines are effective immediately, but subject to change after a 10-week open consultation.

There's a growing awareness of cyber offences in the UK, with lawmakers deeming revenge porn a specific crime last year and the maximum prison sentence for internet trolls being bumped up to two years.

Social networks are also attempting to tackle trolls at their end. Last month, Twitter set up the Trust and Safety Council to help make the service more accommodating for everyone.

[Kizzy]

Not before time, having been a victim myself I know how upsetting it is.

[Cherie]

We will miss you LT :sad:

[T*]

Good.

[Mokka]

We will miss you LT :sad:

:joker::joker::joker:

[Ross.]

We will miss you LT :sad:

:joker:

[Vanessa]

This happens a lot on facebook. :fist:

[reece(:]

This happens a lot on facebook. :fist:
Yess, my mum has thought she's been friends with Russell Brand a good few year now.

[Vanessa]

Yess, my mum has thought she's been friends with Russell Brand a good few year now.

It's impossible to know if people are real or not. :shrug:

[Ashley.]

I'm seriously shocked that it's become so bad that they've created and updated laws just to stop it from getting out of control... Have these "trolls" nothing better to do with their time? It actually embarrasses me.

[Crimson Dynamo]

We will miss you LT :sad:

:fist:

I dont use social media



:joker:

:fist:

[Vanessa]

:fist:

I dont use social media



:joker:

:fist:

You don't use facebook? :laugh:

[Shaun]

TiBB's impact?

[Vanessa]

I'm seriously shocked that it's become so bad that they've created a law just to stop it from getting out of control... Have these "trolls" nothing better to do with their time? It actually embarrasses me.

Twitter is even worse. :nono:

[Denver]

Twitter is even worse. :nono:

Twitter will be closed down and One Directions followers will be around 100k

[Denver]

TiBB's impact?

Let's see how many still create fake profiles :hee:

[Vanessa]

Twitter will be closed down and One Directions followers will be around 100k

I hardly even go there anymore. It's that bad :laugh:

[billy123]

I dont use social media
You are more of an Antisocial media type of guy :joker:

[Crimson Dynamo]

You don't use facebook? :laugh:

no


well that is a lie I am a member of local group that updates people on road conditions, a big thing round here as many of our roads are abvove 1000 feet and i post weather info

The group is about 800 and i am the only member it seems with no profile picture :shrug:

i dont use facebook at all personally and just use my registration to look at things like this and business pages

[Kazanne]

Not before time, having been a victim myself I know how upsetting it is.

Me too Kizzy,it's not nice is it? about time it was stopped.

[Mystic Mock]

Why arrest people for pretending to be Celebrities though? I mean it's a desperate act sure, but if people can't tell the difference between the real deal and a fake then I'm really concerned for the Human Race.

Cyberbullying and threats of violence however I'm fine with being made illegal to do on the Internet.

[Vanessa]

Me too Kizzy,it's not nice is it? about time it was stopped.

You have to be very careful on facebook and twitter. You just never know who you're dealing with, unless you know them personally.

[Crimson Dynamo]

i blame the parents

[Denver]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/498611/Waiter-Adam-Johnson-panicked-abused-online-Prem-paedo-namesake

Perfect example of innocent people being abused on twitter

[Crimson Dynamo]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/498611/Waiter-Adam-Johnson-panicked-abused-online-Prem-paedo-namesake

Perfect example of innocent people being abused on twitter

well he is not being abused personally, adam johnsone is

[Denver]

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/diet-fitness/498605/Weight-loss-pictures-stolen-Facebook-diet-pills-advert

A women has her Facebook pictures stolen to promote weight losss

[Denver]

well he is not being abused personally, adam johnsone is

Is he not? They went on his profile and sent abusive message and the fact the they look nothing a like even a thicko would know they are 2 different people it's horrible.

[Mystic Mock]

Could you imagine if someone was called Adolf Hitler on Twitter?:shocked:

[Crimson Dynamo]

Is he not? They went on his profile and sent abusive message and the fact the they look nothing a like even a thicko would know they are 2 different people it's horrible.

you seem surprised that there are a lot of thick, poorly educated people in the uk who can operate smartphones?

[Kazanne]

You have to be very careful on facebook and twitter. You just never know who you're dealing with, unless you know them personally.

Too right Vanessa,it's a dangerous place sometimes.

[Ninastar]

tibb multi hew?

[Alf]

Who are the influences of these rule makers? The Nazis?

[Beso]

yeah there are some sick nasty scum out there.



my sons friends set up a memorial page for him when he died, and of course it got trolled. sent me a bit over the edge at the time.

[Kizzy]

yeah there are some sick nasty scum out there.



my sons friends set up a memorial page for him when he died, and of course it got trolled. sent me a bit over the edge at the time.

I bet, so sorry to hear that Parmnion:( good to know families will hopefully be spared that now.

[Cherie]

yeah there are some sick nasty scum out there.



my sons friends set up a memorial page for him when he died, and of course it got trolled. sent me a bit over the edge at the time.

Awful, the sense of helplessness as well, hopefully this is not lip service and trolls who intrude on grief in this way will get proper sentences or community service

[Josy]

Great news.

[Ammi]

yeah there are some sick nasty scum out there.



my sons friends set up a memorial page for him when he died, and of course it got trolled. sent me a bit over the edge at the time.

..I'm so sorry to hear that parmnion..:hug:...yeah, sadly there are some really sucky people out there...

[Niamh.]

yeah there are some sick nasty scum out there.



my sons friends set up a memorial page for him when he died, and of course it got trolled. sent me a bit over the edge at the time.

It makes me sad to think there are people who would do something like that in this world......and alot of them as well judging by all this internet stuff.

Glad to hear about these new changes

[the truth]

they only seem to apply these laws to twitter? whereas youtube and facebook is jam packed with slander and bigotry.

[Nicky91]

well i don't like trolling as well


so great news that it's now a criminal offence

[Niamh.]

they only seem to apply these laws to twitter? whereas youtube and facebook is jam packed with slander and bigotry.

It doesn't say it only applies to Twitter

[Crimson Dynamo]

YOu should see the racism in the comments in LiveLeak :omgno:

From USA

[Beso]

thanks folks.

[LukeB]

here for it

[Mystic Mock]

I feel sorry for what happened in your case Parmnion, and I would fully support those people that trolled the memorial page that was dedicated to your Son to be punished by the Law as it should be treated as vandalism at a Funeral Site in real life.

However is the law gonna be used just for someone pretending to be say Tony Blair and then start saying some sarcastic things to people, should that person really be arrested for that? I personally don't think so even if it's a jerkish act we have jerks in real life and we don't arrest them for it so why should we on Twitter or any other Social Media Site?

Then there's the case that Adam put up on here where someone could have the exact same name as a Celebrity and yet could be arrested for being an "imposter" which is just plain wrong imo.

[DemolitionRed]

parmnion that's awful, I'm so sorry you had to be a victim to such cruelty.

[DemolitionRed]

However is the law gonna be used just for someone pretending to be say Tony Blair and then start saying some sarcastic things to people, should that person really be arrested for that? I personally don't think so even if it's a jerkish act we have jerks in real life and we don't arrest them for it so why should we on Twitter or any other Social Media Site?

Then there's the case that Adam put up on here where someone could have the exact same name as a Celebrity and yet could be arrested for being an "imposter" which is just plain wrong imo.

The problem with claiming to be someone your not is, it can lead to grooming the unsuspecting. Anonymity is fine until someone abuses it and uses it as a tool that can potentially inflict real harm.

If a real David Beckham (not the footballer) came on FB with that name, nobody can arrest him unless he starts pretending he's the famous footballer.

[Mystic Mock]

The problem with claiming to be someone your not is, it can lead to grooming the unsuspecting. Anonymity is fine until someone abuses it and uses it as a tool that can potentially inflict real harm.

If a real David Beckham (not the footballer) came on FB with that name, nobody can arrest him unless he starts pretending he's the famous footballer.

I get what you mean, it's just that of all the things to clamp down on I just think that Internet Trolls at their basic form are not what I would be targeting tbh.