All Channels
Approvals 7/3 ▼
KingPin (1) - 3469d ago Cancel
mpctips (3) - 3469d ago Cancel
TechImperia (3) - 3469d ago Cancel
480°

Internet Trolls In UK Could Face Two Years In Jail

Internet trolls who post comments on social media could now see a jail sentence of 24-months.

Create Report !X

Add Report

Reports

+ Updates (1)- Updates (1)

Updates

Changed from Pending to Approved
Community3469d ago
proudly_X3470d ago

Trolls everywhere!!! I wish other governments can emulate this

TechImperia3469d ago

Internet would such be boring place without all the trolls.

Yi-Long3468d ago

Yet another step towards fascism and a suppression regime. No-one in their right minds should 'want'this.

Yeah, people who send death threats and order 'swattings' as a prank deserve to get completely and fully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law...

... but this is about people 'spreading venom', whatever that means.

Have you ever been on an American website and tried having a political or foreign policy discussion? There's such a huge divide between the opinions that pretty easily both sides will mistake the other side for 'trolling'.

What happens when someone takes side with the Palestinians instead of with Israel? And even with all the human rights arguments to back that opinion up!? Would that be 'spreading venom'? Or would it be one side trying to have a balanced well thought out discussion looking, and one side trying to shut the other side up by calling them 'trolls' and 'online terrorists'!?

That's a very thin and dangerous line, and to be honest, I see that escalating into more and more and more censorship and being able to shut people up who's opinion you don't want to be heard.

I don't believe we should be moving in that direction. At all.

iamnsuperman3468d ago (Edited 3468d ago )

"That's a very thin and dangerous line"

How is it? I don't understand how people do not get this. It is easy to understand. It is basically the same as something that is said verbally that can be an arrestable offence (racist, harassment or a threat) but for things posted online. It isn't up to the individual to decide what is or isn't trolling but the law decides. It is very simple. It is to combat death threats, stalking/harassment and other forms harassment. A heated argument isn't trolling.

You wouldn't go to jail over an opinion of Palestine (as long as the opinion isn't outright racist) and the same applies here. This law is applying what already exists as verbal harassment but putting it into the online domaine

ProjectVulcan3468d ago (Edited 3468d ago )

When you go around constantly harassing one particular person online, rape threats, death threats, racist abuse etc then you should face the law in those severe cases.

The internet is about freedom of expression, not the freedom to harass people.

The people that will (and have been) dealt with under this sort of law will be extreme cases. A couple of ranting inboxes because you argued online with someone is one thing, weeks and months of loony threats is another

Yi-Long3468d ago

What if 'my opinion' is deemed to be 'harassment'!?

If a girl online asks: Hey, what do you think of my new hair!? And I reply: 'It makes you look like Woody Allen'.

That could be my opinion. That could be mean-spirited. Or it could be both my honest opinion AND also perceived as mean and 'bullying'.

However, I doubt anyone would be put in jail for that.

What I was talking about, was the phrase used in the article, 'Internet trolls who spread “venom” '. Define 'venom'. Is that just mean remarks towards someone on Facebook. Or will that soon be every opinion outside the socially acceptable!?

When someone for example explains/defends the existence of IS (not the actions), would that be deemed as 'agreeing and defending terrorism', and thus spreading venom/poison to influence the minds of others!?

We're getting closer and closer to giving up or individual freedoms, and I don't believe the gains are worth the costs. I don't believe in censorship.

Death threats, stalking, etc etc is already illegal and thus punishable. If someone sends me a death threat, I can call the police and they already have the authority to go after the person sending that threat.

hkgamer3468d ago

depends what country you are from.

most people here from US have this false pretense of free speech so they would probably believe that this is wrong. but some people get so much verbal abuse from people that it needs to be stopped.

verbal abuse,mor in this case online verbal abuse is disgusting and should be stopped.

palestine and israel has nothing to do with this. that is political debate and not social abuse.

Yi-Long3468d ago

No, it's about perception. I could think I would be having a political discussion, and some guys on the other end might think I would be promoting terrorism or spreading anti-USA/Israel hate-speech or whatever.

Like I said, there are already laws that protect you from threats and harassments and all that. We shouldn't be so quick to give more and more of our individual freedoms and rights up, under false pretences.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3468d ago
iamnsuperman3469d ago (Edited 3469d ago )

Because the type of trolling these sentences will be given to are those of verbal threats (like a threat to someone's life or a racial remark) or a form of emotional bullying through harassment. This won't happe to the random "Apple suxs" guy but those causing problems that would face similar charges if they were verbal said. There is no difference between a text threat or a verbal threat

Gondee3469d ago

This is a bad thing. This could be leveraged to arrest pretty much anyone lol

ABizzel13469d ago

This is a good thing, in the real world ignorance can get you killed or put in jail, committing it online is a bit harder to get yourself killed, but jailed should be standard for people online issuing threats, racism, and other forms of abuse online.

annoyedgamer3469d ago

"racism" Just remember that here in the USA we have an entire political party that claims any critique of their behavior amounts to racism, sexism and/or homophobia. If the USA was to adopt this law half the population would be violating the law.

SilentNegotiator3468d ago

Looks like someone had an entire gallon of kool-aid.

If you equate wealth to just the members of one of the parties, you have absolutely no clue.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014...
"Democrats and Republicans in Congress were about equally wealthy, with Democrats boasting a median net worth of $1.04 million, compared to $1 million for congressional Republicans"

And don't complain about sheeple if you're going to "BAAAH" that "the other party is, homophobic, closet bigots, who hide their homophobic, sexist, bigotry"

UnwanteDreamz3468d ago (Edited 3468d ago )

The millionair comment was about both parties genius thanks for supporting my point also don't have to buy in on either to see that an entire political party here has been fighting to keep people from their civil rights. I could explain the bigotry comment as well but you are not listening. You obviously have a dog in the fight. If it would make you feel better I think democrates and repubicans along with their blind faithful ruined this country long ago. I dont fit in your box but you can keep trying.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3468d ago
hkgamer3468d ago

well in a sense you are right, but a judge or a good lawyer should be able to see what is classed as a joke and what isnt.

if i called a judge a cunt to his face he probably do something to get me arrested. but if i said it online then am i ok?

1nsomniac3468d ago

I hate trolls but then I'm a grown up, I understand that it's just silly kids doing doing silly things. The fact that you can go to jail now because of it despite how irritating they are it makes a bit of a mockery of the justice system (but I suppose, what's new?).

MajorLazer3468d ago

Another step towards controlling and monitoring everything we do...

Show all comments (20)
90°

Twitter Blue problems? How to sign up for verification despite error messages

Signing up for the new Twitter Blue has caused problems for some folks. The Shortcut details the roadblocks you may hit trying to sign up and how to get around them.

Read Full Story >>
theshortcut.com
Create Report !X

Add Report

Reports

+ Updates (1)- Updates (1)

Updates

Changed from Pending to Approved
Community493d ago
EvilCackle493d ago (Edited 493d ago )

Good thing I signed up at launch so people know I'm the real evilcackle

CurrentDigital493d ago

Huge loss for those who don't know where else to spend their surplus $8 a month

SwiderMan492d ago

Still haven't been approved for Twitter Blue :/

gatewayinternational489d ago

study abroad is the chance to find yourself while acquiring a comprehension of an alternate culture. Being in another spot without help from anyone else can overpower on occasion.

284d ago
Show all comments (6)
70°

Thousands of top websites collect your data in real-time as you type

Websites are harvesting our data even before we

Read Full Story >>
knowtechie.com
Create Report !X

Add Report

Reports

+ Updates (1)- Updates (1)

Updates

Changed from Pending to Approved
Community707d ago
80°

The days of remaining anonymous on the internet are coming to an end

Regulations are beginning to require users to verify their identification online.

Read Full Story >>
knowtechie.com
Create Report !X

Add Report

Reports

+ Updates (1)- Updates (1)

Updates

Changed from Pending to Approved
Community900d ago