Harmful Communications and Digital Safety Bill 2017

Public bill · Private Member · Introduced

The proposed law would update criminal law to deal with harmful online and offline behaviour, including sharing intimate images without consent, taking such images without consent, sending menacing or false messages, harassment, and stalking. It would also cover social media and other digital services, protect the privacy of people affected, and give courts power to stop someone contacting or approaching another person in serious cases.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to consolidate and reform the criminal law concerning harmful communications, to repeal certain provisions of the Post Office (Amendment) Act 1951 and the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997, to promote and encourage measures to improve digital safety for all persons, to confer certain powers on the courts in respect of intended civil proceedings, and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 13 February 2020