Harmful and Malicious Electronic Communications Bill 2015

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposal would make it an offence to deliberately or recklessly share digital communications that cause someone alarm, distress or harm, including messages encouraging suicide or serious self-harm, or sharing intimate images of them. Persistent malicious communications would also be punishable by a fine of up to €5,000, up to 12 months in prison, or both. Even without a conviction, a court could order the material removed, an apology or correction issued, or contact with the person stopped; breaching such an order would itself be an offence.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to protect against and mitigate harm caused to individuals by all or any digital communications and to provide such individuals with a means of redress for any such offending behaviours directed at them

Last updated 12 April 2018