Rethinking cyberhate laws
Chara Bakalis · Information & Communications Technology Law · 2017
Cyberhate is a growing problem. There is legislation in place that can be used to tackle various aspects of online hate, but in practice, the existing offences are difficult to use. The law is fragmented, and does not capture the true nature of internet hate, or provide adequate protection to victims. This piece evaluates the current provisions, and concludes with a framework for creating new legislation to tackle cyberhate which will be easier for the police and prosecutors to use, which will reflect more clearly the harm caused by hate on the internet, and which is also compatible with freedom of expression.