Sharing hate posts could lead to jail
SOCIAL media users who share racist or homophobic postings will face jail in England and Wales under rules proposed yesterday.
Advice for judges and magistrates recommends harsh punishments for those found guilty of stirring up hatred against racial, religious or sexual minority groups.
Among those jailed should be people who post comments or share online hate speech because they have been reckless as to whether they stir up hatred, say the proposals from the Sentencing Council.
Those found guilty of hate trolling by commenting on or sharing social media posts should typically receive a sentence of six months in jail. Anyone who is convicted of orginating hate speech that threatens anyone’s life or which is widely distributed should expect three years.
A Scottish Government spokesman said ministers would consider a separate set of proposals being formulated by Lord Bracadale, who is drawing up a Hate Crime Legislation Review.
He said: ‘Intolerance and prejudice of all kinds are a constant threat to society and there is no place for this kind of activity in a modern Scotland.
‘Lord Bracadale’s review will consider whether new categories of hate crime should be created for characteristics such as age and gender, which are not currently covered, and ministers will consider the report’s findings once his work is complete.’
The recommendations, which will be subject to a three-month consultation, come at a time of deepening sensitivity to racism and abuse about sexuality online.
On top of long-standing concerns about material posted by extremists, accusations have been levelled against those in mainstream politics and other well-known individuals. Labour Party figures have been accused of anti-Semitism, while veteran feminist Germaine Greer and gay rights and free speech campaigner Peter Tatchell are among those who have been labelled as hate-peddlers for questioning the claims of the transgender lobby.
Critics say the proposals will mean young people who heedlessly throw insults on the internet are at risk of prison sentences.
Professor Anthony Glees, director of the Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies, described the guidelines as bizarre, saying they were ‘not strict enough where they should be strict, too severe where greater leniency is called for’.
He said the law needed to distinguish between ‘young and foolish’ individuals who say silly things and ‘dangerous radicalisers and purveyors of violence who exploit social media to wreak havoc and death’.