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FINE GAEL TD Barry Ward has called on the government to make it illegal to impersonate someone in order to trick people online, a practice known as ‘catfishing’.
Ward said in the Dáil today that catfishing is “immoral and wrong” and that it harms not only those people who are duped by impersonators, but also the people whose identities are being assumed.
He also said that while the practice may breach defamation laws and, in cases where money is paid to an impersonator, legislation covering fraud, he wants the government to define catfishing in legislation and make it explicitly illegal.
“We can all recognise that this is wrong and immoral. What is extraordinary is that it is not illegal. It is clear that catfishing is not against the law in Ireland,” Ward said.
“In many instances, it has happened in the context of online dating and romantic contexts but there is also a wider issue in respect of fraud and things like that,” Ward said.
“How can we expect to stop people from doing this and how can we expect anything to change if we do not make this illegal and introduce real consequences in the courts and in criminal justice legislation for people who do this?” he asked.
During his contribution in the Dáil, Ward referenced cases which have been highlighted by Irish podcasts, particularly ‘Cruel Intentions: Catching the Catfish’ and ‘The 2 Johnnies’.
“Listening to Johnny B. and Johnny Smacks on ‘The 2 Johnnies’ podcast, the extent of and detail involved in what they describe as having happened is extraordinary. Any person could be hoodwinked by it,” Ward said.
He said it must be remembered “that the images used to dupe people online are images of real people, although they have been misused in the context of the catfishing. Those people are also affected by this”.
“On the “Cruel Intentions” podcast, I heard of a young woman whose image had been stolen. She is afraid that, when going into a local coffee shop, she will be approached by someone who thinks they are in a relationship with her because her image has been used online,” he said.
“It damages a whole range of people even if they are not involved and have done nothing wrong.”
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As election time is fast approaching some of these back benchers are getting worried about their seats and more importantly the gravy train, they are fluffing their feathers in an effort to pretend they care about us ordinary voters, in reality they have constantly proven they don’t give a rats ass……
An the voters have constantly voted them into power.
Well there is no option they are all the same party makes no difference
That’s the spirit. Sure what can we do? Best leave it as is and have a good old whine about it.
Agree look at the teacher wan with the peroxide hair( in Meath or somewhere) who has jumped from Labour to FF !!!
You missed the point… It’s time for real change.
Ok good. So what is that change, In your opinion?
Do away with the whip system would be a start, make them vote with their conscience assuming they have one, make executive more accountable, I’m no expert but that seems like a good start to me
Who cares as these guys have absolutely nothing to do with the coming budget….tossers the lot of them….excuse my french
100% correct. Germany and to a much lesser extent the “economic council” will sort it out :-) ….. So we can expect more of the same
At odds over Budget? Can they not just get one person to translate it from German and email it on?
So what’s on offer is getting more screwed in the short term or the long term.
Depending on if we meet over-optimistic growth targets.
Brilliant.
@ElasticPooch
If only it was that easy the tender to translate the budget from German to Irish than into english must be drawn up and published all over the EU, Before its awarded to pwc or Goodbodies, some may say.
Yeah, sure here now Deco will you come along to the Lockout2013 when it kicks off or are we gonna sit on our holes tweetin about this sham of a government forever?
At odds yeah right there up there sipping pints and laughing their backsides of at us
Just dissolve the government. Labour are going to end up a shadow of their former values, and Fine Gael will be in opposition next time around anyway.
At this point, retaining the current government has more to do with vanity than belief for Kenny & Co.
Hayes is a trumped up arrogant fooker. He likes playing with numbers be it 4% or 5%. The reality of mass human suffering caused by this juggling act to satisfy the markets ( Troika, Germany) doesn’t seem to concern him. Those of us lucky to have jobs are now slaves to an insurmountable debt. Those young enough and skilled are hopping on the nearest plane to escape, and yet Hayes and his ilk slavishly pursue this failed policy. Their will be no one left to applaud Hayes when he sees our deficit reach 4% as the country will be broken and empty.
On the other hand it’s just probably the usual good cop bad cop routine, float Armageddon and deliver something a bit more cosier than Hell, and the idiots will sigh in relief.
So Rob you want FF (who destroyed the country) or SF ( who destroyed the country) to lead us – Jaysus I’m outta here !
Sf destroyed the country? Explain that one for me go on I could do with a laugh!
25 years of murdering its people north & south !
Institutionalised abuse of women and children, selling off of fisheries, mineral reserves to the lowest bidder, loss of sovereignty, apartheid up north ignored thus empowering the ira, collusion with loyalist death squads/British secret services in terror campaigns, collusion with US war machine via Shannon, enforcement of banker led raid on public finances and troika economic enslavement, generations of emigration, etc, etc….
This can all be played at the feet of SF is that right? Because the last time I checked it was FF/FG led governments that gave us the banana republic, in all its 90 odd years of glorious failure, whole ad have spent their time representing people north and south that this government had too much contempt for to even acknowledge
Hang on a minute now, FF FG and Labour all have their own history of murder as you call it.
All the Shinners coming out from under their rocks – beware people be afraid
Excellent response Elrat
@Rob. Just dissolve the government?? This isn’t Egypt (thankfully)
Another FGer seeking out the media limelight
I mean Labour, but they are practically indistiguishable at this stage I suppose
Hold on… maybe it’s FFafter all? :)
Labour will be extinct after the next general election
As should the real culprits FF
This is merely a game & a smokescreen, expect far more of this kind of stuff coming up to the budget, Labour are screwed, their Local Election candidates & EU candidates are getting worried of wipeout & this is merely semantics to give the Electorate the impression they are standing up to FG! -They are wasting their time, do they think we are stupid?
Labour sold out to their Voters, they Lied, Lied, Lied!
Payback is only 9 months away!
Labour hopefully will be extinct after next election. More right wing than Fine Gael.
When are Labour going to pull a green party move, come out with a statement we couldn’t abide with the decisions being made anymore that are affecting every citizen in the country, so we are ending the coalition with fg. It’s amazing what these bastards will do to save face and in the hope the public will forgive them in the next election. The Irish people have the worse memories in the world because they keep voting these gits in at every other election. Voted out next election then voted back in election after that.
Is this the start of the orchestrated move for Labour to walk to try and save themselves? Too little too late methinks.
The sooner FG drop labour the better. There is a need for a fully fledged, right wing party in Ireland. It would give the country some stability and shut the bleeding hearts up for a while.
Thomas you clearly have a deep infatuation with Enda Kenny.
Whatever he’s paying you/doing for you, realise that you’re still talking total bollocks.
Sounds like something that happened in Germany during the 30′s, think the Italians tried it too and maybe the Spanish dabbled in it as well. Not sure how it worked out for them
Couldn’t agree more Thomas, it worked a treat for Germany and Italy in the 30′s and Spain well into the 70′s. And we shall call him Heir Kenny, and he shall gather round him like minded Blonde quiffed warriors, and before them they shall rid the country of the poor and sick, leaving only those healthy and wealthy, and corrupt enough to rule the meek whom shall provide for them monies, some of which they will keep and more they will hand over to their cousins in the “Troika”.
Rob, “Thomas” has a newly opened twitter account. He is a troll of the highest order. Check his profile ,he has already send aggressive tweets to people who have called him out on his tweets.
Thomas maybe you should go and lie down before your crazy rants land you in the crazy house………….or better yet just take your head out of enda’s rear end and get some much needed air and reality!
Can I’ve a loan of your iron for a minute dude… My natzi uniform has a crease in it..!
Questions: Do the public have access to the budget and fiscal year end information regarding budget achievement?
Anyone else think he sounds like that knacker Cowan? Might need a PR alteration there.
Why didn’t they just put a picture of Rodney on the cover shot. Jeysus what a plonker
Contradiction: Gives out politicians using the media to further an agenda. Uses the media to further his own agenda.
Send the junior ministers to the naughty step.
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