The Malicious Communications Act 1988 (MCA) is a British Act of Parliament that makes it illegal in England and Wales to "send or deliver letters or other articles for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety". It also applies to electronic communications.
The original purpose of the MCA was to prevent the sending of printed matter, but the scope of the act has been extended to cover electronic communications. The MCA can be used to charge people for comments made via social networking sites that are “racially motivated” or "religiously motivated."[1]
Criticismsedit
The MCA has been criticised for its aim as a means to censor free speech, a core civil liberty. In 2012 an individual was falsely arrested under the Act for saying that Olympic diver Tom Daley let his late father down by not winning a medal at the London Olympics.[2]
Highlighted casesedit
The MCA was successfully used against Internet troll Sean Duffy who harassed the family of Natasha MacBryde after her death.[citation needed] In the case of DPP v Connolly, the MCA was used to prosecute an anti-abortion campaigner who sent obscene images of foetuses to pharmacists who sold the contraceptive pill.[3][4]
^Awan, I. (2014). Islamophobia and Twitter: A Typology of Online Hate Against Muslims on Social Media. Policy & Internet, 6(2), 133-150.
^Gillespie, A. A. (2012). Twitter, Jokes and the Law. The Journal of Criminal Law, 76(5), 364-369.
^Keane, M., & Long, J. (2011). Health and homelessness: the Simon snapshot study. Drugnet Ireland, 9-10.
^Heffernan, L. (2011). Police accountability and the Irish law of evidence. Crime, law and social change, 55(2-3), 185-197.
External linksedit
The full text of Malicious Communications Act 1988 at Wikisource
Full text of Malicious Communications Act 1988 (c. 27) Text of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
Man jailed over tsunami e-mails
Quinn, Ben (11 November 2012). "Kent man arrested after picture of burning poppy posted on internet". The Guardian.
This legislation in the United Kingdom, or its constituent jurisdictions, article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
malicious, communications, 1988, british, parliament, that, makes, illegal, england, wales, send, deliver, letters, other, articles, purpose, causing, distress, anxiety, also, applies, electronic, communications, malicious, communications, actunited, kingdomlo. The Malicious Communications Act 1988 MCA is a British Act of Parliament that makes it illegal in England and Wales to send or deliver letters or other articles for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety It also applies to electronic communications Malicious Communications ActUnited KingdomLong titleAn Act to make provision for the punishment of persons who send or deliver letters or other articles for the purpose of causing distress or anxiety Citation1988 c 37Territorial extent England Wales Northern Ireland section 2 only DatesRoyal assent29 July 1988Status Current legislationText of statute as originally enactedRevised text of statute as amended Contents 1 Scope of application 2 Criticisms 3 Highlighted cases 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksScope of application editThe original purpose of the MCA was to prevent the sending of printed matter but the scope of the act has been extended to cover electronic communications The MCA can be used to charge people for comments made via social networking sites that are racially motivated or religiously motivated 1 Criticisms editThe MCA has been criticised for its aim as a means to censor free speech a core civil liberty In 2012 an individual was falsely arrested under the Act for saying that Olympic diver Tom Daley let his late father down by not winning a medal at the London Olympics 2 Highlighted cases editThe MCA was successfully used against Internet troll Sean Duffy who harassed the family of Natasha MacBryde after her death citation needed In the case of DPP v Connolly the MCA was used to prosecute an anti abortion campaigner who sent obscene images of foetuses to pharmacists who sold the contraceptive pill 3 4 See also editCensorship in the United Kingdom Hate mailReferences edit Awan I 2014 Islamophobia and Twitter A Typology of Online Hate Against Muslims on Social Media Policy amp Internet 6 2 133 150 Gillespie A A 2012 Twitter Jokes and the Law The Journal of Criminal Law 76 5 364 369 Keane M amp Long J 2011 Health and homelessness the Simon snapshot study Drugnet Ireland 9 10 Heffernan L 2011 Police accountability and the Irish law of evidence Crime law and social change 55 2 3 185 197 External links edit nbsp The full text of Malicious Communications Act 1988 at Wikisource Full text of Malicious Communications Act 1988 c 27 Text of the Malicious Communications Act 1988 as in force today including any amendments within the United Kingdom from legislation gov uk Man jailed over tsunami e mails Quinn Ben 11 November 2012 Kent man arrested after picture of burning poppy posted on internet The Guardian nbsp This legislation in the United Kingdom or its constituent jurisdictions article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Malicious Communications Act 1988 amp oldid 1207711089, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
