Why should we legislate against hurt feelings?
The danger in broadening the definition of online crimes is that taking offence becomes incentivised and weaponised
When Captain Sir Tom Moore walked lengths of his garden to raise money for the NHS, the 99-year-old war veteran captured the nation’s locked-down hearts. Sadly, for every hero there is a loser just itching to pour forth vitriol and a social media platform ready to provide a receptacle. Upon learning of Captain Tom’s death, Glaswegian Joseph Kelly took to Twitter to inform the world: “The only good brit soldier is a deed one, burn auld fella, buuuuurn.”
Kelly’s tweet was undoubtedly moronic and obnoxious. He quickly deleted it, but not before screenshots were taken and he was reported to the police. Last week Kelly was convicted of sending a “grossly offensive” tweet under Section 127 of the Communications Act (2003). He will be sentenced next month.
To some, Kelly’s rudeness confirms their perception of the internet as a cesspit of hatred and abuse. “Wild West” is their descriptor of choice. Fortunately for them, there’s a new sheriff in town. Step forward Nadine Dorries. The culture secretary wants to crack down on online harassment and is promising new criminal offences and stiffer punishments all round. In her bid to make the UK the safest place in the world to use the internet, Dorries has “very extensive” plans for the Online Safety Bill.
Continue reading at The Times.