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Charity vInspired launches a 'Trolls Under The Bridge' installation to highlight the negative effects that internet trolling has on people, at the IMAX Underpass, Waterloo, London. The writing is genuine quotes from the internet. PA Archive/Press Association Images

Internet trolls in Britain could get two years in jail

That’s under new government proposals outlined today.

Updated 8.20pm

PEOPLE FOUND GUILTY of Internet “trolling” in Britain could be jailed for up to two years under government proposals outlined today, following a number of high-profile cases of abusive and threatening behaviour on Twitter.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “This is a law to combat cruelty — and marks our determination to take a stand against a baying cyber-mob.”

There has been increasing concern in Britain about the growing scourge of Internet “trolls” who post hate-filled messages on social media, often threatening their targets.

The parents of missing girl Madeleine McCann are among the most recent victims, and last month a man was jailed for 18 weeks for what prosecutors described as “a campaign of hatred” against a female lawmaker.

“These internet trolls are cowards who are poisoning our national life. No-one would permit such venom in person, so there should be no place for it on social media,” Grayling said.

That is why we are determined to quadruple the current six-month sentence.

For and against

Victims have long been calling for police and prosecutors to take online abuse more seriously and lawyers had anticipated an increase in sentences for those convicted of trolling.

“There is a public interest in having people put away for a long time,” Chris Holder, of London law firm Bristows, told AFP earlier this month.

“It is putting someone in fear of their life and fear of physical harm. I think the law will develop and the sentences will go up and up.”

However, some lawyers and freedom of speech campaigners have warned that criminal sanctions should be the last resort.

“Do we want to criminalise every social conduct that we find problematic?” Barbora Bukovska, a senior director at campaign group ARTICLE 19, said earlier this month.

Prosecutions can currently be brought under a number of different laws, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last year introduced guidelines to address any confusion.

It said messages sent via social media could be a criminal offence if they contain “credible threats of violence” or target an individual in a way that “may constitute harassment or stalking”.

The government proposes to amend two existing laws to extend the maximum jail term and also the time limit for prosecutions, from six months to three years.

- © AFP, 2014

Read: Sky News has tracked down one of many ‘Internet trolls’ abusing Maddie McCann’s parents>

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    Mute Colm Molloy
    Favourite Colm Molloy
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    Sep 24th 2014, 7:33 AM

    Well done all, hopefully a whole range of jobs and money will be created by supplying the domestic and worldwide markets
    I’d rather buy this product than one where almost all the purchase money leaves the country
    Hopefully as much as possible is manufactured here and the after sales servicing supplied from here too

    31
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    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
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    Sep 24th 2014, 9:04 AM

    Pretty sure none of it’s manufactured here as there is no money in that. Money is designing and selling the things and running the company.

    12
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    Mute alex
    Favourite alex
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    Sep 24th 2014, 7:36 AM

    Way over priced, see inspire home automation for better alternative….

    20
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    Mute David Burke
    Favourite David Burke
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    Sep 24th 2014, 9:03 AM

    Had one for a few years now and it’s been useful. The only thing is lots Irish people will see very marginal savings as we are already so stingy with the immersion and heating. In places like the US where people just stick the heating on all day smart meters can make a huge difference. Ireland not so much.

    Nest is actually pretty poor but very fashionable.

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    Mute Rangertwozero
    Favourite Rangertwozero
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    Sep 24th 2014, 8:40 AM

    Looks like a nice gadget to have in the house. Unfortunately most people probably won’t be able to afford it only for the rich among us. Good idea though.

    10
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    Mute J
    Favourite J
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    Sep 24th 2014, 8:02 AM

    Horrible name

    8
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    Mute Myles
    Favourite Myles
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    Sep 24th 2014, 10:41 AM

    €400…ouch
    No outside temperature sensor, how can you optimise start stop function?
    Sorry but the Austrian “WebBrick” is far better option and allows you to integrate more systems and it is similar price.

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    Mute James Darby
    Favourite James Darby
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    Sep 24th 2014, 9:12 AM

    Well done. Always a great entrepreneurial culture around Dundalk

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