Tuesday 21 October 2014
This post is research that me and Roxanne carried out for our package segment of our news story. This is pretty much a brainstorm on research relating to our story, from relative cases, to laws, to charities that help to deal with trolling.
Internet trolling research
This story refers to the new phenomenon affecting a generation that rely on the internet, there has always been an issue of bullying but it has now taking a new form, it has moved on to the internet and anonymity has helped those ‘trolls’ to offend other internet users.
This has become an issue of safety for internet users, as it can be said that they are put in a danger of being cyber-bullied but now also threatened by those that may have never even met them.
The government are now stepping in to update the law in reflection of the world and the times. It can be said that the abuse spreads across the internet if in person was expressed then it would count as verbal assault, this has raised the question for years that ‘trolls’ should be punished in the same way that an verbal assault will be.
Current law
Currently, offenders who subject their victims to sexually offensive, verbally abusive or threatening material on the internet can only be prosecuted in magistrates courts under the Malicious Communications Act, which carries a maximum prison sentence of six months.
But the planned changes will allow magistrates to pass on serious cases to the crown courts, where offenders would face a maximum sentence of 24 months.
New Law Update
The government is changing the law to increase the maximum sentence for the offence of sending certain items with the intent to cause distress or anxiety. This will mean more serious offences can be dealt with in the Crown Court and there will not be a time limit for police and Crown Prosecution Service to bring a prosecution.
Alongside this, the government is also changing the law to allow up to 3 years, as opposed to 6 months as previously, to bring prosecutions against people for using the internet, social media or mobile phones to send menacing messages.
What we want our package to have
- Define troll in comparison with cyber bullying (start)
- What is a Troll?
- How does it affect peoples lives?
- Show variation of trolling i.e fight trolling, online game trolling, social media
- Case study-
- interview with possible victim (skype or in person)
- Show examples of punishment
- People whom have been jailed / prosecuted
- people whom have been beaten up
- Show comparison of crime, in person vs online
- Government action (end)
- new update on law
- The new amendment of the law more important than the actual crimes themselves?
What is a Troll?
Some one who sows discord on the internet, they post controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages online.
Internet term for trouble maker
At its worst, internet trolling means purposely spreading hatred, racism, misogyny, bigotry, conflict and any other kind of unpleasantness. In milder cases it’s about causing interpersonal conflict just for the sake of it. It’s often political, social or cultural. But when a troll posts abusive and hurtful comments about a specific person, it’s called flaming. Either way, it’s anonymous. (http://www.knowthenet.org.uk/jargon-buster/trolling)
Trolling Facts:
- Internet trolls usually aim to disrupt normal online activities by a persistent series of insulting or aggressive posts and messages. These inflammatory comments usually have no substance but often include cruel and destructive attacks on someone's physical appearance or personality, with the aim of making the target believe them.
- Cyber bullying
- Cyber bullying is any form of bullying which takes place online or through your mobile phone. Websites like Facebook, Bebo, YouTube, MySpace, instant messaging on MSN and gaming forums can be great fun. But what do you do when things go wrong? Cyber bullying is rife on the internet and most young people will experience it at some time. http://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/what-is-cyberbullying/
- People have committed suicide because of it
- Trolling attacks include:
- Put-downs and insults
- Name-calling
- Spreading lies
- Emotional rants
- Bullying
- Harassment
The phycology going on behind the trolling, these are people whom don't have anyone listening to them in everyday life, they want to get attention by venting out hate and abuse online anonymously
Pre internet, to troll people, the harassers would send hate mail, egg and flower people, prank call there phones. Now days they can do it from behind their computer!
Social media platforms:
- Ask.fm
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Bebo
- Myspace
- Youtube
- Reddit
- Online gaming
- MMORPG
- World of warcraft
- Call of Duty
- Streetfighter
- ect...
Troll stories Punishment examples
These are people whom have been jailed or attacked
Charlie Zelenoff
Over the weekend, it was revealed by TMZ Sports that WBC Heavyweight mandatory title challenger Deontay Wilder informally tangled with cyber bully and internet troll Charlie Zelenoff after being harassed for almost three years.
The infamous Charlie Z sent texts and phone messages, calling Deontay the "N word" and insanely threatening to harm Wilder's daughter
Internet 'troll' may have targeted two more dead teenagers with vile online abuse
- Sean Duffy charged with posting more online abuse about Sophie Taylor, who was accidentally shot dead by her boyfriend
Internet 'troll' may have targeted two more dead teenagers with vile online abuse
Sean Duffy charged with posting more online abuse about Sophie Taylor, who was accidentally shot dead by her boyfriend.
The online bully who targeted dead teenagers and cruelly mocked their deaths may have posted sick abuse on the internet about two more girls. Sean Duffy, 25, who taunted the untimely deaths of schoolchildren including a 15-year-old who threw herself under a train, has been charged with posting more offensive Facebook images.
The unemployed troll has been charged by Grampian Police for posting vile images about Sophie Taylor, 16, who was accidentally shot dead by her boyfriend Calum Murray, 18.
Duffy, who has been imprisoned for 18 weeks after admitting sending malicious communications, has been charged over 'offensive images' on a Facebook tribute page set up for Sophie in April, the Daily Mirror reported.
Panorama's Declan Lawn reports on the dangers of cyberbullying and meets pop singer Cher Lloyd, who has experienced racist attacks and physical threats on social networking sites.
He also tracks and confronts a man known to troll the internet and post offensive comments on tribute pages on social networking sites.
The Cybersmile Foundation is a multi award-winning anti cyberbullying non-profit organization committed to tackling all forms of online bullying and hate campaigns.
Charity that deals with Trolling/cyber bullying.
Possible lead to contact for case study/ person whom has overcome trolling with assistance of this charity.
Further articles for research
Articles:
Main news article on new trolling law
Gov press release
Trolling in Kent-
Government site on trolling-
Kent police-
Bullying website-
