D e p ar t m e n t o f F R O M T H E O F F C E O F T H E JU S T I C E M I N IS T E R J u s t i c e e w v do jn L g o v .u k in is te r ’s O ff ic e B lo c k B , C a s tl e B u il d i n gs S t o r m o n t E s ta te B a l l y m i s c a w B e l f a s t B T 4 3 S G T e l : 0 2 8 9 0 5 2 8 1 2 1 O u r re f: I N V / 1 4 2 /2 0 1 3 M r B r i a n J oh n S p e n c e r J u n e 2 0 1 3 Q _ _ _ N v S 4 -% c L Y o u p o s e d a n u m b e r o f q u e s ti o n s b y e m a il r eg a rd i n g t h e u s e o f s o c i a l m e d ia . S e v e ra l o f yo u r q u e s ti o n s re a t e t o P S N I o p e r a ti o n a l i s s u e s a n d I s u g g e s t y ou m a y w is h to se e k r e s p o n s e s d i r e c tl y . A s yo u ar e a w a r e I r e s p o n d e d t o a de b te in t h e A s se m b l y o n 5 F e br u ar y w h e re m a n y o f h e i s s u e s y o u r a is e w e r e d i s c u s se d . I sh o u ld s t a r t b y h ig h li g h t in g th a t r e g u la t i o n o f t h e i n t e r n e t i s n o t a n i ss u e w h i ch f a l ls w i th i n t h e r e sp o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e d e v o lv e d g o v er n m e n t. U n d e r t h e N o r th e rn I r e l a n d A c t 1 9 9 i t i s s p e c if ic a l l y r e c o r d e d a s a r e s e r v e d i s s u e , n o d o u b t r ef le c ti n g th e g l o b a l n a t u r e o f s u c h c om m u n ic at io n . D e c is io n s o n r e g u l a t i o n a re fo r c e n tr al G o v e rn m e n t. T h e r e a r e n o p l a n s t o ch a n g e t h i s s i t u a t io n . O f fe n c e s c o m m it te d b y m e a n s o f s o c i a l m e d i a c a n to u c h o n aw i d e r a n g e o f l e g i s l a t io n . S e n d in g a m e s sa g e v i a a p u b l i c e le c t r o n i c c o m m u n i c at io n s n e tw o r k t h a t i s g r o s s l y o ff e n s iv e o r m e n a c i n g o r f o r t h e p u r p o se o c a u s i n g a n no y a n ce o r a n x ie t y w h e r e th e m e s s a g e is k no w n to b e f a l s e ar e o ff e nc e s u n d e r t h e C o m m u n ic a ti o n s A c t 2 0 0 3 . B u i l d i n g a fa n u s t an d s a f e i c o m m u n i t y

Social Media Law in Northern Ireland - David Ford Response

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Page 1: Social Media Law in Northern Ireland - David Ford Response

7/28/2019 Social Media Law in Northern Ireland - David Ford Response

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Department ofFROM THE OFFICE OF THE JUSTICE MINISTER

j,us icewvw.dojnLgovuk

Anyone convicted for these summary offences is liable on conviction to imprisonmentfor a maximum of 6 months or to a fine or to both.

Undoubtedly, social media can be a channel open to misuse by those who wish todirect attacks at others, whether those attacks are of a sectarian or political nature,but we have seen successful prosecutions in Northern Ireland. On the other side of thecoin we need to recognise the positive campaigns that use social media to inform andchange mindsets.

Where people post or send messages that are judged to be grossly offensive, or of anobscene or menacing nature, then they are guilty of an offence under theCommunications Act 2003.

Where the police believe that offences have been committed under theCommunications

Act, they will pursue charges.

Any changes to this legislation are not for my Department, but it should beremembered that the Northern Ireland legislative framework makes a number ofother, effective, offences and penalties available.

Where comments constitute threats to kill, then the maximum penalty available is 10

years imprisonment, or indeed, where an assessment of dangerousness is made,indefinite imprisonment, with release at the discretion of the Parole Commissioners.

Where comments target specific individuals, and where these constitute an offenceunder our harassment legislation, penalties of up to 7 years imprisonment areavailable, subject to the nature and seriousness of the offence.

Building a fair, ju’it and safer community

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Department ofFROM THE OFFICE OF THE JUSTICE MINISTER

Justicedojr go”.

Where comments breach hate crime legislation, pen alties of up to 7

years areavailable, and there a range of offences for which, where they are shown to motivatedby race, religion, sexual orientation or disability, maximum penalties available areincreased.

I hope these comments clearly set out the current position.

DAVID FORD MLAM iniste r of Justice

Building a faii, just and safer community