Online impersonation and trolling examined in Law Reform Commission review
The Law Reform Commission says it is exploring gaps in the law on harrassment, so that online impersonation and trolling might be included as an offence.
It comes as the Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales is looking at updating its guidelines on social media to deal with trolls who impersonate others online.
Read: Read More:
Why internet trolls could face criminal charges in the UK for fake online profiles
The Law Reform Commission here is currently reviewing the law on cyber crime affecting personal safety, privacy and reputation, including cyber-bullying.
It has been consulting with interested groups and individuals and says it hopes to publish a report on the matter due by the end of June.
However it admits that there are gaps in the law that are being examined.
Media lawyer Andrea Martin said that the law is lacking regarding a lot of online abuse.
"At the moment in Ireland, unless there's a specific law like harassment law, incitement to hatred law, child pornography law - unless one of those laws is being broken, there is sometimes very little that can be done unless an individual is prepared to go to the High Court," she said.
She said however that there was a case the year before last involving a fake profile.
"The High Court ordered Twitter to take down an impersonation account that was set up in a woman's name without her knowledge - obviously someone had all her details and put up very distressing photographs that were of the woman in question, and they were quite sexually explicit photographs.
"But she had to go to the High Court for that to happen.
"So we don't have specific laws that address for example, impersonation and trolling."
The DPP there says it reflects the pace of change in online communication - where new methods are being used to abuse people.
Claire O'Dowd from Spun Out, which has been involved in the Law Reform Commission's consultation process says a change in the law would be welcome.
"The fact that this is happening more often and people are realising that it can cause a lot of harm to be harassed online, the inclusion of that into the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act, we think, would really act as a deterrent to people, and make victims aware that they could go to the Guards if this ever happens to them," she said.
