Thousands of People Arrested in the UK for Online Threats and Insults
According to data released by The Times, the police in the United Kingdom arrested and detained thousands of individuals in 2023 for making threats or insults online. The data shows that police officers took in approximately 12,183 people, or about 33 a day, under sections 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
These laws criminalize the sending of messages that are “grossly offensive” or the sharing of content with an “obscene, indecent, or threatening character” over electronic communication networks.
The number of arrests has increased by 58% compared to 2019, when 7,734 people were taken in, according to the report. However, the data also shows that the number of convictions and guilty pleas has decreased by almost half.
The statistics have sparked a public outcry, with human rights groups accusing the authorities of over-monitoring the internet and undermining freedom of speech by applying “vague” communication laws.
The case of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were arrested on January 29, has drawn particular attention. The couple, who were taken into custody by six uniformed police officers at their home, were held for eight hours and questioned about allegedly making threats and insulting a school official in a private WhatsApp group. The couple’s lawyer said that the messages were not threatening or insulting but rather “a bit sarcastic”.