Trolling Via Facebook Leads to Jail Sentence

In a recent court case a man was jailed for improper user of a public electronic communications network. He used Facebook and Youtube to post offensive and distressing comments relating to a teenager who had committed suicide. The charges were brought under the Communications Act 2003 s127 which makes it a criminal offence to send by means of a public electronic communications network a message or other matter that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. The case highlights again the need for colleges to take their safeguarding responsibilities seriously with regard to appropriate use of their own computing facilities. It also reinforces the important role that their e-safety policies and practice play with regard to promotion and education of their students on responsible use of social networking sites whilst at college and in the wider community.

The background to the case is reported on the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-14897948
The full text of the Communications Act 2003 is available at http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/21/section/127
JISC Legal has information on safeguarding and e-safety at http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/Themes/eSafety.aspx
 

Posted on 15/09/2011

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