Freedom of expression and offensive political Emails: an important assertion of a fundamental right – UK Human Rights Blog

Posted February 8th, 2024 in electronic mail, freedom of expression, malicious communications, news by tracey

‘In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal has quashed the conviction of the appellant for an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 based on an email written to local councillors in a political dispute. In R v Casserly [2024] EWCA Crim 25, The Court gave guidance on – and placed emphasis on the importance of – directing juries on the right to free speech under Article 10 ECHR. The appeal considered the interaction between s 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 and Article 10.’

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UK Human Rights Blog, 8th February 2024

Source: ukhumanrightsblog.com

The Online Safety Bill: A clean bill of health? – 2 Hare Court

Posted January 10th, 2024 in bills, chambers articles, internet, malicious communications, news, sport by sally

‘The Online Safety Bill received Royal Assent on 26 October 2023, becoming the Online Safety Act (“the Act”). Its aim is to deliver on the government’s commitment to “make the UK the safest place to be online”, by imposing statutory duties on social media companies and search engines[1] (“service providers”) to ensure that they implement measures to protect individuals from illegal and harmful content online.’

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2 Hare Court, 28th November 2023

Source: www.2harecourt.com

Man fined for sending abusive email to Angela Rayner MP – Crown Prosecution Service

Posted January 2nd, 2024 in electronic mail, fines, guilty pleas, malicious communications, news, sentencing by tracey

‘A man who sent a vile and abusive email to MP Angela Rayner following the publication of a national newspaper article about the politician has been fined.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 28th December 2023

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Stradey Park: Man made sexist video about police officer – BBC News

‘A man who made sexist and ageist comments about a female police officer has been given a suspended sentence.’

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BBC News, 27th September 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Sheffield woman Katie Bell who trolled grieving widow jailed – BBC News

‘An online troll who carried out a campaign of abuse against a grieving widow after breaching an order to stop has been jailed for 15 months.’

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BBC News, 4th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Trolls who encourage serious self-harm to face jail – Ministry of Justice

‘Vile trolls who hide behind the anonymity of the internet to encourage others to cause themselves serious harm will face prosecution as part of an overhaul of online safety laws announced today (18 May 2023).’

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Ministry of Justice, 18th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

Law Commission recommendation targeting the encouragement of serious self-harm to be included in Online Safety Bill – Law Commission

‘Last week the Government announced that it will update the Online Safety Bill to include the Law Commission’s recommendation to make encouraging or assisting serious self-harm an offence.’

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Law Commission, 29th November 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Met officers guilty of sharing offensive messages with Wayne Couzens – The Guardian

Posted September 22nd, 2022 in internet, London, malicious communications, news, police, racism, telecommunications by sally

‘A serving police officer and an ex-colleague have been warned there is a real possibility they will go to jail after being found guilty of sending grossly offensive misogynistic and racist messages in a WhatsApp group that included Sarah Everard’s killer.’

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The Guardian, 21st September 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Ex-police officer jailed for 20 weeks over racist WhatsApp messages – The Guardian

‘A former police constable has been jailed for 20 weeks after sending a string of racist WhatsApp memes, including images that mocked the death of George Floyd.’

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The Guardian, 14th June 2022

Source: www.theguardian.com

Donald Wood jailed for sending threatening letters to MPs – BBC News

‘A man who sent threatening letters to three Labour MPs before fleeing to Morocco has been jailed for 21 months.’

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BBC News, 26th April 2022

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Jealous mother who ran over love rival made pregnant by the father of her child is jailed – The Independent

‘A jealous mother has been jailed for three years for running over a love rival who had been made pregnant by the father of her child.’

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The Independent, 28th February 2022

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Government accepts Law Commission’s recommendations to reform the communications offences – Law Commission

‘The Government has accepted the Law Commission’s recommendations to reform the communications offences, made in the 2021 Modernising Communications Offences report. It intends to include the offences in the Online Safety Bill.’

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Law Commission, 7th February 2022

Source: www.lawcom.gov.uk

Chelsea fan jailed for antisemitic tweets aimed at Tottenham supporters – The Independent

‘A Chelsea fan who posted antisemitic and racist tweets aimed at Tottenham fans has been jailed.’

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The Independent, 6th November 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Chelsea fan jailed for anti-Semitic tweets aimed at Spurs supporters – BBC News

Posted November 5th, 2021 in hate crime, imprisonment, internet, Judaism, malicious communications, news, sentencing, sport by michael

“A Chelsea supporter who posted anti-Semitic tweets aimed at Tottenham fans, including photos of Auschwitz and a man doing a Nazi salute, has been jailed.”

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BBC News, 5th November 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Man spared jail for threatening Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner after Sir David Amess murder – The Independent

‘A man has been spared jail after sending a threatening email telling deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner she should “watch her back” after he found her address online.’

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The Independent, 28th October 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Can Online Safety Bill tackle social media abuse of MPs? – BBC News

‘Following an outpouring of sadness after the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, his colleagues from across the Commons have been raising concerns for their own safety.’

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BBC News, 20th October 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Foot fetish man avoids jail for 1,263 nuisance calls to NHS 111 – The Independent

‘A foot fetishist who made more than a thousand calls to the NHS’s 111 service to ask the call handlers about their feet has been convicted and fined.’

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The Independent, 14th September 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Cheshire man sentenced for racist abuse of England players – Crown Prosecution Service

‘A Cheshire man has been sentenced for posting racist abuse about England players on the night of the Euro finals in July.’

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Crown Prosecution Service, 8th September 2021

Source: www.cps.gov.uk

Priti Patel: Men jailed over racist Snapchat video that went viral – BBC News

‘A man has been jailed for making a racist Snapchat video in which he targeted Home Secretary Priti Patel and used racial slurs.’

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BBC News, 12th August 2021

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Businessman jailed for a year over ‘vile’ threats to MPs who criticised Brexit – The Independent

Posted June 21st, 2021 in brexit, imprisonment, malicious communications, news, parliament by tracey

‘A businessman who sent death threats to MPs in a series of emails warning them not to block Brexit has been jailed for 12 months.’

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The Independent, 19th June 2021

Source: www.independent.co.uk