New Zealand makes internet 'trolling' illegal
Supporters believe it will help mitigate the harm caused by cyber-bulling but critics say it is a threat to free speech
man typing on keyboard in the dark
The law will help mitigate the harm caused by cyber-bulling Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Flynn Murphy, Sydney
10:20AM BST 08 Jul 2015
Internet trolls face up to two years' jail in New Zealand under a controversial new law which bans “harmful digital communications”.
And under a parallel amendment to New Zealand's Crimes Act, a person who tells another to kill themselves faces up to three years in prison.
The law will help mitigate the harm caused by cyber-bulling and give victims a quick and effective means of redress, supporters said.
But critics said the law harms free speech and its fine print could threaten public interest journalism in the country.
• Online abuse: how to live a happy troll-free life on the internet
Under the Harmful Digital Communications Act in effect from this week, anyone convicted of “causing harm by posting digital communication” faces two years in prison and a $50,000 (NZ) (£6,500) fine, while businesses face fines of up to $200,000 (NZ).
Harmful communications can include truthful as well as false information, and “intimate visual recordings” such as nude or seminude pictures or video shared without permission.
The bill was introduced after a public outcry over the horrific "Roast Busters” scandal, in which a group of teenage boys from Auckland was accused of sexually assaulting drunk, under age girls and boasting about the acts on social media.
But in an editorial, New Zealand’s Dominion Post said while the law's intentions were good, it went too far and could "pick up in its drift-net the sorts of noise and criticism that make for the talk of a free society”.
Noting it effectively bans online communications judged “indecent”, “false” or “used to harass an individual”, the Post asked if reports on political expense scandals, or cartoons that mock religious figures, may also be banned under the legislation.
The bill passed the New Zealand parliament with an overwhelming 116 to 5 majority.
Speaking against the bill, Greens MP Gareth Hughes said while its intent was noble, its definition of “harm" was “irresponsibly broad”, and said the law could damage journalism in the country.
Arguing what was not an offence offline should not be an offence online, Mr Hughes criticised the fact reporters were not exempt from the legislation, which he said may prevent them publishing online the same story about a corrupt MP which would be perfectly legal to publish in a newspaper.
Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
"Seth is Grandmaster Zen Troll who trains his victims to troll themselves every time they think of him" Robert_S
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
- Brian Peacock
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Good job it's not against the law here, eh Seth? Eh? Eh?




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"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
.
Details on how to do that can be found here.
.
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
- Blind groper
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
It is too early to see how this will be interpreted. The intent is clear. It is not to penalise idiots, but to prevent genuinely nasty, malicious personal attacks of the kind that can drive vulnerable and sensitive people (especially teenagers) to suicide.
I suspect it will require several court cases before the exact way it is interpreted is clear. Personally, I think that the kind of total asshole who will be convicted under this law deserves everything he or she gets!
I suspect it will require several court cases before the exact way it is interpreted is clear. Personally, I think that the kind of total asshole who will be convicted under this law deserves everything he or she gets!
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Currently, there is no extradition treaty between Rationalia and New Zealand. Our only officially sanctioned extradition arrangement is with the London Borough of Croydon and dates back to Brian Peacock's unfortunate little incident with the policeman's helmet and the tadpoles.
The staff will handle any requests for extradition on a case-by-case, quid-pro-quo, ad-hoc and tic-tac-toe basis. Unless it's a Tuesday. The extradition office shuts on Tuesdays for Lent.
The staff will handle any requests for extradition on a case-by-case, quid-pro-quo, ad-hoc and tic-tac-toe basis. Unless it's a Tuesday. The extradition office shuts on Tuesdays for Lent.

A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
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This is the wrong forum for bluffing
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Calilasseia
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Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing

Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
No. Even though Seth is a self admitted troll, he has not committed the kind of utterly malicious on-line crimes this law was set up to catch. I say this because I know from watching, that Rationalia members are unusually thick skinned, and seriously unlikely to commit suicide because of something someone posts.
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
It's OK when rEv does it because it is for The Greater Good.


We should be MOST skeptical of ideas we like because we are sufficiently skeptical of ideas that we don't like. Penn Jillette.
Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Er, the point is that you don't get to make that determination, some bureaucrat or prosecutor with a personal or political agenda does, and if they want to fuck with you, they now can.Blind groper wrote:No. Even though Seth is a self admitted troll, he has not committed the kind of utterly malicious on-line crimes this law was set up to catch. I say this because I know from watching, that Rationalia members are unusually thick skinned, and seriously unlikely to commit suicide because of something someone posts.
Silly asses.
The good news is there's fuck-all they can do to me or anyone else outside of NZ.
"Seth is Grandmaster Zen Troll who trains his victims to troll themselves every time they think of him" Robert_S
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
- Xamonas Chegwé
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Unless we choose to extradite you, of course. It is here that cheesy gifts to the staff larder can come in handy...Seth wrote:Er, the point is that you don't get to make that determination, some bureaucrat or prosecutor with a personal or political agenda does, and if they want to fuck with you, they now can.Blind groper wrote:No. Even though Seth is a self admitted troll, he has not committed the kind of utterly malicious on-line crimes this law was set up to catch. I say this because I know from watching, that Rationalia members are unusually thick skinned, and seriously unlikely to commit suicide because of something someone posts.
Silly asses.
The good news is there's fuck-all they can do to me or anyone else outside of NZ.

A book is a version of the world. If you do not like it, ignore it; or offer your own version in return.
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing
Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
Salman Rushdie
You talk to God, you're religious. God talks to you, you're psychotic.
House MD
Who needs a meaning anyway, I'd settle anyday for a very fine view.
Sandy Denny
This is the wrong forum for bluffing

Paco
Yes, yes. But first I need to show you this venomous fish!
Calilasseia
I think we should do whatever Pawiz wants.
Twoflower
Bella squats momentarily then waddles on still peeing, like a horse
Millefleur
- Blind groper
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
You say this, Seth, because you do not understand NZ law (or NZers). Our officials are not like American officials. They are not corrupt. Nor do they abuse their powers to carry out personal agendas. So, no. This law will not be abused.Seth wrote:some bureaucrat or prosecutor with a personal or political agenda does, and if they want to fuck with you, they now can.
Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Yeah, right. You just keep right on believing that as they march you to the showers.Blind groper wrote:You say this, Seth, because you do not understand NZ law (or NZers). Our officials are not like American officials. They are not corrupt. Nor do they abuse their powers to carry out personal agendas. So, no. This law will not be abused.Seth wrote:some bureaucrat or prosecutor with a personal or political agenda does, and if they want to fuck with you, they now can.
"Seth is Grandmaster Zen Troll who trains his victims to troll themselves every time they think of him" Robert_S
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
"All that is required for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
"Those who support denying anyone the right to keep and bear arms for personal defense are fully complicit in every crime that might have been prevented had the victim been effectively armed." Seth
© 2013/2014/2015/2016 Seth, all rights reserved. No reuse, republication, duplication, or derivative work is authorized.
- Brian Peacock
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Look, I explained all that to the Jury who, in their wisdom, found in my favour. I refuse to be harangued in this libellous fashion, especially as the Judge discharged me without charge and accepted my explanation in full; that I found the officer's helmet on a wall when I needed something to carry some hot tapioca to a sick widow. The facts are that a simple 'wardrobe malfunction', when my belt buckle snapped unexpectedly, meant I had no option but to run into the photobooth that just happened to be nearby. Can we please drop this now? I find all this very distressing and am just trying to put it all behind me and get on with my life.Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Currently, there is no extradition treaty between Rationalia and New Zealand. Our only officially sanctioned extradition arrangement is with the London Borough of Croydon and dates back to Brian Peacock's unfortunate little incident with the policeman's helmet and the tadpoles.
The staff will handle any requests for extradition on a case-by-case, quid-pro-quo, ad-hoc and tic-tac-toe basis. Unless it's a Tuesday. The extradition office shuts on Tuesdays for Lent.
Rationalia relies on voluntary donations. There is no obligation of course, but if you value this place and want to see it continue please consider making a small donation towards the forum's running costs.
Details on how to do that can be found here.
.
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
.
Details on how to do that can be found here.
.
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Suicide is usually a surprise. I wouldn't take a thick skin as having much protective value with suicide. I've noticed a comedic element in the remaining Ratz that hints at several potential candidates in the right circumstances... 

What will the world be like after its ruler is removed?
- Brian Peacock
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Hmm. To be serious, the law should protect the vulnerable, but one cannot legislate for personal resilience and self-confidence. In the UK, assisting in, or encouraging at person to, suicide is an offence. The problem with internet relations is that they can be vicariously anonymous and therefore relatively, and significantly, incorrigible. I'm not against such a law in principle, but I fear that it being proposed in desperation and after the horse has long ago bolted.
Rationalia relies on voluntary donations. There is no obligation of course, but if you value this place and want to see it continue please consider making a small donation towards the forum's running costs.
Details on how to do that can be found here.
.
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
.
Details on how to do that can be found here.
.
"It isn't necessary to imagine the world ending in fire or ice.
There are two other possibilities: one is paperwork, and the other is nostalgia."
Frank Zappa
"This is how humanity ends; bickering over the irrelevant."
Clinton Huxley » 21 Jun 2012 » 14:10:36 GMT
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
Good news indeed, seeing that rEv does not live in New Zealand.Seth wrote:The good news is there's fuck-all they can do to me or anyone else outside of NZ.
I am, somehow, less interested in the weight and convolutions of Einstein’s brain than in the near certainty that people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and sweatshops. - Stephen J. Gould
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Re: Uh Oh, rEv's really screwed now...
So, nothing to do with that bribe then.Brian Peacock wrote:Look, I explained all that to the Jury who, in their wisdom, found in my favour. I refuse to be harangued in this libellous fashion, especially as the Judge discharged me without charge and accepted my explanation in full; that I found the officer's helmet on a wall when I needed something to carry some hot tapioca to a sick widow. The facts are that a simple 'wardrobe malfunction', when my belt buckle snapped unexpectedly, meant I had no option but to run into the photobooth that just happened to be nearby. Can we please drop this now? I find all this very distressing and am just trying to put it all behind me and get on with my life.Xamonas Chegwé wrote:Currently, there is no extradition treaty between Rationalia and New Zealand. Our only officially sanctioned extradition arrangement is with the London Borough of Croydon and dates back to Brian Peacock's unfortunate little incident with the policeman's helmet and the tadpoles.
The staff will handle any requests for extradition on a case-by-case, quid-pro-quo, ad-hoc and tic-tac-toe basis. Unless it's a Tuesday. The extradition office shuts on Tuesdays for Lent.

We should be MOST skeptical of ideas we like because we are sufficiently skeptical of ideas that we don't like. Penn Jillette.
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