ExtraTorrent | UK Calls for New Online Abuse Law

[Guest]

Shadow minister Helen Goodman believes that the UK legislation around cyberbullying is very confused, and has argued for better protection for teenagers on the Internet. The minister for culture, media and sport calls for the UK to adopt a clear legal framework to address the problem of cyberbullying and the suicides of vulnerable kids.

At a packed debate on childhood and the worldwide web in Westminster, Helen Goodman pointed out that it’s the responsibility of legislators to do something to tackle the problem of cyberbullying. She claimed that the authorities don’t want another voluntary response and should fill the gap between online and real identity by making cyberbullying a criminal offence. In the meantime, the current legal situation is very confused, but an offence of cyberbullying should mirror charges of harassment if it is brought in the real world.

Helen Goodman also emphasized that a solution needs to involve education along with the law, and argued for more robust content controls in order to protect underage teens. She believes it is normal to apply the norms built up over five decades – what we see in the cinema and on TV – to the web. The 13-year-olds shouldn’t be put into an adult space.

In response, delegates expressed concern that a heavy-handed move could criminalize rather than teach kids. They say search providers will need to deliver some positive material for children who surf the Internet.

Of course, some recall David Cameron’s one-click filters enforced by ISPs, warning pages on adult material, and moves to block porn from public Wi-Fi services. The supporters of Prime Minister agree that the real problem with user-generated websites is that some unmediated services would require new law.

The number of young people’s deaths because of cyberbullying or web influence of other kind has increased in the recent time. For instance, 15-year-old Tallulah Wilson died a year ago when she was hit by a train. It turned out that the girl had developed an alternative fantasy life online. Another example is 14-year-old Hannah Smith, who was found hanged after being bullied on the open-discussion website Ask.fm.