BRIEFING PAPER Number 07967, 13 September 2017 By Pat Strickland Online harassment and cyber bullying Jack Dent Contents: 1. The problem 2. Recent governments’ approaches to internet regulation 3. The law in England and Wales 4. Do we need specific law for online harassment? 5. Will there be changes to the law? 6. Children and online bullying 7. Online abuse of Members of Parliament 8. Reporting online abuse and harassment 9. Sources of help and advice 10. Scotland 11. Northern Ireland www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library |
[email protected] | @commonslibrary 2 Online harassment and cyber bullying Contents Summary 3 1. The problem 5 2. Recent governments’ approaches to internet regulation 6 3. The law in England and Wales 7 3.1 Relevant offences 7 3.2 Guidance on prosecuting social media offences 7 3.3 A new code of practice 9 4. Do we need specific law for online harassment? 10 5. Will there be changes to the law? 12 5.1 The Law Commission consultation 12 5.2 A Green Paper in 2017? 13 5.3 The 2017 General Election manifestos 13 6. Children and online bullying 16 What can parents do? 17 7. Online abuse of Members of Parliament 19 2017 General Election 20 Independent review into abuse of Parliamentary candidates 20 8. Reporting online abuse and harassment 21 8.1 What are social media companies doing? 21 8.2 The challenge for social media companies 23 9. Sources of help and advice 27 Adults 27 Parents and children 27 10. Scotland 28 10.1 The law 28 10.2 Guidance and help for victims 28 11.