UK and Wales to take Harsher Stance on "Trolling" Online

What was a discussion about woman in video games has turned into an outright war, at least, in many parts of the internet.  People threatening and insulting woman has become an epidemic, and battle lines have been drawn: unfortunately for the intolerant, hateful lot who attack woman (both in video games and outside them), they’re undoubtedly on the wrong side: both morally and legally.

See, the first amendment protects many things, but not threats.  Which is why making these bomb and massacre threats against public figures will get you in the FBI’s crosshairs, especially since we’re having problems with massacres lately here in the US.

But we’re not the only country in the world with this problem, nor are we the only one doing something about it.  The UK has had a cyber-threat problem for years, and following abuse aimed at Judy Finnigan following her comments on convicted rapist Ched Evans (and intense threats of rape made against her daughter, TV presenter Chloe Madeley, when she defended her mother’s comments) they’re going to make things even more difficult for cyber-bullies in the UK and Wales.

See, for the past 11 years, the UK, Wales and Scotland have been punishing “trolls” with the 2003 Communications Act, which stated that the act of trolling online could be a crime and could be punishable, at most, with six months of jail time.   But Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, inspired by above events (and others) has proposed an amendment to that bill to quadruple the maximum sentence to two years, as well as taking online threats against specific individuals more seriously. 

"We must send out a clear message - if you troll you risk being behind bars for two years," Grayling said.

Scotland, for now, would continue to use the law as-is.

Chole Madeley, the TV presenter who was the target of some intense threats, added her own two cents to the plan by saying social media should be more proactive about regulating this kind of hate.  The Association for Progressive Communications gave Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube an F in taking a stand violence against women, largely because they refuse to acknowledge issues until they’re made public and a complete lack of transparency regarding how these issues might be reported.  Additionally, when they do address abuse against woman, it’s solely in the west: it’s almost completely ignored in any nation not in Europe or North America.

Madeley continued to say:

"[While I’m] an avid supporter of free speech and social networking...threats of any kind must not be interpreted as freedom of speech. Threatening to harm others is extreme and crosses the line of personal opinion into criminal behavior."

Personally, I hope it goes through.  It’s not okay that a maniac filled with hate can make force someone to leave their home out of fear.  If that means taking a harder line against what people can say on the internet, fine: you shouldn’t be threatening people ANYWAY.