The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has launched a consultation process reviewing Irish law on cyber-crime affecting personal safety, privacy and reputation, including cyber-bullying. It addresses harassment conducted through cyber-technology, and other harmful communications through the use of internet enable devices such as smartphones, tablets and PCs.
The Issues Paper, published by the LRC today, reviews the legal safeguards currently in place and considers where they might be strengthened. The LRC seeks the views of interested parties on five issues, including:-
“(1) Whether the harassment offence in section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997 should be amended to incorporate a specific reference to cyber-harassment, including indirect cyber-harassment.
(2) Whether there should be an offence that involves a single interference, through cyber technology, with another person’s privacy.
(3) Whether current law on hate crime adequately addresses activity that uses cyber technology and social media.
(4) Whether current penalties for offences which can apply to cyber-harassment and related behaviour are adequate.
(5) The adequacy of civil law remedies to protect against cyber-harassment and to safeguard the right to privacy”.
Contributors are requested to make their submissions/comments before close of business on Monday 19 January 2015.
The full text of the Issues Paper can be found here.