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| 'Trolls' who create fake profiles face criminal prosecution | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Internet "trolls" who create fake social media profiles could face charges, say guidelines being proposed for prosecutors in England and Wales. | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service says adults should be charged if they use fake social media IDs to harass others. | The Crown Prosecution Service says adults should be charged if they use fake social media IDs to harass others. |
| Cases would also follow if posts were indecent, grossly offensive or so false they caused distress and anxiety. | Cases would also follow if posts were indecent, grossly offensive or so false they caused distress and anxiety. |
| The CPS is amending its guidelines to keep its staff up to date with modern crime. | The CPS is amending its guidelines to keep its staff up to date with modern crime. |
| A six-week consultation on the proposed changes has now started | |
| "It is vital that prosecutors consider the bigger picture when looking at evidence and examine both the online and offline behaviour pattern of the defendant," said director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders. | "It is vital that prosecutors consider the bigger picture when looking at evidence and examine both the online and offline behaviour pattern of the defendant," said director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders. |
| "Online abuse is cowardly and can be deeply upsetting to the victim." | "Online abuse is cowardly and can be deeply upsetting to the victim." |
| However, the CPS has said children should rarely be prosecuted, because of their lack of adult judgement. | However, the CPS has said children should rarely be prosecuted, because of their lack of adult judgement. |
| Catfishing imposters | Catfishing imposters |
| Fake accounts can be used by those posing as their victims to post embarrassing messages or pictures - or to target others without fear of identification. | Fake accounts can be used by those posing as their victims to post embarrassing messages or pictures - or to target others without fear of identification. |
| Imposters have set up false accounts to discredit former partners, and attract new ones - a practice known as Catfishing. | Imposters have set up false accounts to discredit former partners, and attract new ones - a practice known as Catfishing. |
| In 2015, Ruth Palmer told the BBC someone had used pictures from her Facebook account to set up a network of false identities made up of her friends and family. | In 2015, Ruth Palmer told the BBC someone had used pictures from her Facebook account to set up a network of false identities made up of her friends and family. |
| Fraudsters have also set up fake LinkedIn profiles, in an attempt to harvest the personal details of legitimate users. | Fraudsters have also set up fake LinkedIn profiles, in an attempt to harvest the personal details of legitimate users. |
| Facebook estimated in 2012 that it had tens of millions of illegitimate accounts. | Facebook estimated in 2012 that it had tens of millions of illegitimate accounts. |
| The CPS is advising its prosecutors they should be prepared to charge under existing laws if a case falls into one of three categories: | The CPS is advising its prosecutors they should be prepared to charge under existing laws if a case falls into one of three categories: |
| However, the guidance also sets out less serious situations where prosecutions should be considered under a fourth category: where a false identity is used to post upsetting messages, including false information that could cause anxiety. | However, the guidance also sets out less serious situations where prosecutions should be considered under a fourth category: where a false identity is used to post upsetting messages, including false information that could cause anxiety. |
| Prosecutors say, particularly in this category, a decision to charge must be weighed against the need to defend freedom of speech, including "banter", and the "posting of unpopular opinions". | Prosecutors say, particularly in this category, a decision to charge must be weighed against the need to defend freedom of speech, including "banter", and the "posting of unpopular opinions". |