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| Internet trolls targeted with new legal guidelines | Internet trolls targeted with new legal guidelines |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Internet trolls who create derogatory hashtags or post doctored images to humiliate others could face prosecution in England and Wales. | Internet trolls who create derogatory hashtags or post doctored images to humiliate others could face prosecution in England and Wales. |
| Inciting people to harass others online, known as virtual mobbing, could also result in court action, under new Crown Prosecution Service guidance. | Inciting people to harass others online, known as virtual mobbing, could also result in court action, under new Crown Prosecution Service guidance. |
| The director of public prosecutions said it means they will prosecute "in the same way" as if it were offline. | The director of public prosecutions said it means they will prosecute "in the same way" as if it were offline. |
| But she stressed this did not mean prosecutors could "stifle free speech". | But she stressed this did not mean prosecutors could "stifle free speech". |
| The new rules aim to help police identify online crimes more easily. | The new rules aim to help police identify online crimes more easily. |
| It also highlights those who post people's personal information, such as bank details - known as doxxing. | It also highlights those who post people's personal information, such as bank details - known as doxxing. |
| 'Think about conduct' | 'Think about conduct' |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "The internet's not an anonymous place where people can post without any consequences. People should think about their own conduct. | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said: "The internet's not an anonymous place where people can post without any consequences. People should think about their own conduct. |
| "If you are grossly abusive to people, if you are bullying or harassing people online, then we will prosecute in the same way as if you did it offline." | "If you are grossly abusive to people, if you are bullying or harassing people online, then we will prosecute in the same way as if you did it offline." |
| However, Ms Saunders said context will be an important factor in decisions - for example "if you're offensive, the legislation would say you have to be grossly offensive, and that's quite a high test". | However, Ms Saunders said context will be an important factor in decisions - for example "if you're offensive, the legislation would say you have to be grossly offensive, and that's quite a high test". |
| Kevin Healey told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme he has been abused online for five years over his autism campaign work. | |
| He said: "Not even one troll has been prosecuted or jailed, even though I have made complaints to Twitter and the police. | |
| "It's been a nightmare, it's been horrific - it doesn't go away. It's with you 24 hours and seven days a week, there's no escape from it". | |
| Mr Healey said he doesn't think the changes will make any difference and wants changes to legislation in the UK - and abroad. | |
| "With the laws in the UK, if someone is trolling you from outside the UK - and my last batch of trolls were from the US - the police said we can't do anything," he added. | |
| 'Sexting' ruling | 'Sexting' ruling |
| The CPS says it will use "considerable caution" before charging those posting "grossly offensive" material. | The CPS says it will use "considerable caution" before charging those posting "grossly offensive" material. |
| The changes come after a report found that one in four teenagers is abused online over their sexual orientation, race, religion, gender or disability. | The changes come after a report found that one in four teenagers is abused online over their sexual orientation, race, religion, gender or disability. |
| The CPS also said underage "sexting" between consenting children in a relationship should not be prosecuted, but cases which involve "exploitation, grooming or bullying" may lead to legal action. | The CPS also said underage "sexting" between consenting children in a relationship should not be prosecuted, but cases which involve "exploitation, grooming or bullying" may lead to legal action. |
| Ms Saunders told the BBC: "If they are children, they are the same age, there's no suggestion or any coercion or bad motives, then we would not expect that case to be prosecuted. It shows you how careful you have to be about the context of it," she said. | Ms Saunders told the BBC: "If they are children, they are the same age, there's no suggestion or any coercion or bad motives, then we would not expect that case to be prosecuted. It shows you how careful you have to be about the context of it," she said. |
| Asked about whether guidelines on misogynistic hate crimes would be introduced, Ms Saunders said: "We probably need to think about it." | Asked about whether guidelines on misogynistic hate crimes would be introduced, Ms Saunders said: "We probably need to think about it." |
| A new law on revenge porn - someone uploading explicit images or film of a former partner to humiliate or embarrass them - has led to the prosecution of 206 people across England and Wales since its introduction in April 2015. | A new law on revenge porn - someone uploading explicit images or film of a former partner to humiliate or embarrass them - has led to the prosecution of 206 people across England and Wales since its introduction in April 2015. |
| The public policy statements on hate crime will be subject to public consultation for 13 weeks. | The public policy statements on hate crime will be subject to public consultation for 13 weeks. |
| Have you been the victim of internet trolling? Have you taken part in trolling another person? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. | Have you been the victim of internet trolling? Have you taken part in trolling another person? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |