CPS publishes new social media guidance

[Ste]

New Crown Prosecution Service guidance has set out the range of offences for which social media users could face prosecution.

The guidance, published today (10 October), will be used to inform decisions on whether criminal charges should be pursued.

...

The new social media guidelines for prosecutors make clear that those who encourage others to participate in online harassment campaigns - known as 'virtual mobbing' - can face charges of encouraging an offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007.

Examples of potentially criminal behaviour include making available personal information, for example a home address or bank details - a practice known as "doxxing" - or creating a derogatory hashtag to encourage harassment of victims.

The social media guidance, which is informed by a public consultation and signed off by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Alison Saunders, also includes new sections on Violence against Women and Girls (VaWG), Hate Crime and vulnerable victims.

The DPP said: "Social media can be used to educate, entertain and enlighten but there are also people who use it to bully, intimidate and harass.

"Ignorance is not a defence and perceived anonymity is not an escape. Those who commit these acts, or encourage others to do the same, can and will be prosecuted."

The new guidance also alerts prosecutors to cyber-enabled VaWG and hate crime offences. These can include 'baiting', the practice of humiliating a person online by labelling them as sexually promiscuous or posting 'photoshopped' images of people on social media platforms.

https://www.cps.gov.uk/news/latest_news/cps_publishes_new_social_media_guidance_and_launches_hate_crime_consultation/



Sounds like some of us are going to court for encouraging the delivery of a pizza offence under the Serious Crime Act 2007 whilst hashtagging urmum.

[Rogerborg]

Does this cover getting people sacked from J&S Aberdeen?
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[M.C]

Half this forum's going to prison Really it's an issue for the social media platforms, they make millions, they can pay for people to 'police' them.

The world will truly be a better place when crime on the street goes completely unchecked but no one gets upset on the internet.

[Joncrete Cungle]

Would this be the same 'police' that turned up to my house 8 days after a theft was reported to them? The same police who shrugged their shoulders and offered me a crime reference number?

[Suntan Sid]

[CaNsA]

[Ste]

[Rogerborg]

Mmm, well, I look forward to all the prosecutions of SJWs who set out to deliberately ruin lives and careers. I'm sure the guidance will be applied regardless of the political opinions of the aggressors and victims.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Fizzoid]