In February, the world changed to a very different position from where we are now, with the effects of pandemic truth still going on. One thing, unfortunately, has not changed: sexual abuse committed basically through women through men who abuse smartphones.
On 19 February, I reported a 94% increase in cyber-intermittents sending unsolicited and particular symbols of their genitalia to women on trains in England. act of cyber flashing in England. This, Scotland made it illegal to force someone to look at a sexual symbol without their consent ten years ago.
Now, finally, it turns out that the law is about to catch up on this 21st-century sex crime.
The Law Commission, an independent legal framework responsible for ensuring that English and Welsh laws are fair and modern, has now entered the consultation phase of the reform of communication infringements. This reform is necessary, the Law Commission said, to protect those affected from destructive online behavior, adding cyber flashing, as well as abusive messages and mass harassment.
While existing legislation twisted the sending of rudely offensive or indecent communications, they overlap and do not explain what the terms mean in the age of smartphones. .
The proposals in consultation ensure that clarity is at the heart of the reforms. With regard to cyber-flashing, unsolicited sending of photographs or videos of your genitals would be considered a sexual offence under segment 66 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003 and not early. It is almost a fraud in itself that such additional legal protections for women, and the overwhelming majority of those who suffer such sexual abuse are women, they have long since been in law.
In addition to catching up with Scottish law, England also plays a role in catching up with the United States, where the FLASH Act, Prohibiting Lascive Activities and Sexual Harassment, provides coverage against cybernetic perverts with fines of up to $1,000 (780 euros) depending on whether it is the first offense or not.
The Law Reform Commission does not prevent this, however, as they go beyond cyber-flash to criminalize communication behaviors that can only cause harm. This new crime, if it had become law, would come with emails, social media posts, WhatsApp. messages and any communication sent by Bluetooth or a local network, summarizing everything at once. However, there would also be a “requirement to cause probable damage. “
The era of consultation extends until December 18 and any reform of the law may take effect before the end of 2021. Too late for many, but more backward than ever if it prevents more people from being victimized in this way.
Oh, and you might have noticed that I chose not to communicate about cyber-flash as sending unsolicited “penis photos” because this terminology only serves to dilute the seriousness of the problem. Words matter, and most importantly where other genuine people are subjected to genuine abuse and harm.
I have been a generation journalist for 3 decades and have been editor-in-chief of PC Pro mag since the first factor in 1994.
I have been a generation journalist for 3 decades and have been editor-in-chief of PC Pro mag since the first factor in 1994. Three times winner of the BT Security Journalist of the Year award (2006, 2008, 2010) also lucky enough to be named BT Technology Journalist of the Year in 1996 for a forward-view feature on PC Pro called “Internet Threats”. In 2011, I won the Enigma Award for my lifetime contribution to computer security journalism. Contact me with confidence davey@happygeek. com if you have a story to reveal or a search to share.