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<p>What is illegal offline is also illegal online. Communications which are grossly
offensive, obscene, indecent or false fall under either section 1 of the Malicious
Communications Act 1988 or under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003.</p><p>
</p><p>As part of the work on the Digital Charter announced in the Queen's Speech,
the Government is considering a range of options to counter internet harms. This includes
an Internet Safety Strategy, published on 11 October, which will look at how we can
support users so that everyone can access the benefits of the Internet safely. The
Strategy considers the responsibilities of companies to their users, the use of technical
solutions to prevent online harms and government's role in supporting users. The Strategy
also considers the role that technology companies can play in awareness and education
for users, including children.</p><p> </p><p>The recently enacted Digital Economy
Act will help to ensure that online abuse is effectively tackled by requiring a social
media code of practice to be established. The code will set out guidance about what
social media providers should do in relation to conduct on their platforms and involves
bullying or insulting an individual or other behaviour likely to intimidate or humiliate
them. It will include guidance on arrangements for notification by users; the process
for dealing with notifications; terms and conditions in relation to these arrangements
and processes; and, the giving information to the public about the action providers
take against harmful behaviour. It also includes questions to determine whether guidance
should also be issued on standards for user content and conduct, prevention and identification
of abuse and misuse of services, and information about how to identify illegal content.</p><p>
</p><p>The consultation on the measures in the Internet Safety Strategy closes on
7th December and Government aims to publish the social media code of practice in 2018.</p>
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