Knowledge (XXG)

Communications Act 2003

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to it" will not. Communications that are merely "grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or false" will be prosecuted only when it can be shown to be necessary and proportionate. People who pass on malicious messages, such as by retweeting, can also be prosecuted when the original message is subject to prosecution. Individuals who post messages as part of a separate crime, such as a plan to import drugs, would face prosecution for that offence, as is currently the case.
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upon hearing the phrase "Sieg Heil" and to respond to being asked if he wanted to "gas the Jews". Even though Meechan said that he was not actually racist and that it was a joke intended to annoy his girlfriend, the court found him guilty of being "grossly offensive" on 20 March. He was fined £800 at
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2014: A Lincolnshire man was charged with being grossly offensive after posting a photograph of a police officer on social media, with two phalluses drawn on it. The offending picture was passed on to Lincolnshire Police, who arrested the 20-year-old. He was ordered to pay £400 in compensation to the
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which were deemed 'racist', due to them including racially charged language. Chelsea Russell had used lyrics from a Snap Dogg song as a tribute to a boy who died in a road accident. She was sentenced to an eight-week community order, along with an eight-week curfew. She was also ordered to pay costs
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designed to protect someone (such as those protecting the identity of a victim of a sexual offence) will be prosecuted. Communications that express an "unpopular or unfashionable opinion about serious or trivial matters, or banter or humour, even if distasteful to some and painful to those subjected
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cancelling flights. He said that unless the facility resolved the problem within a week, he would be "blowing the airport sky high". After an off-duty manager discovered the post, Chambers was arrested by anti-terror police. He was found guilty, lost his job and was ordered to pay a £385 fine and
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An Act to confer functions on the Office of Communications; to make provision about the regulation of the provision of electronic communications networks and services and of the use of the electro-magnetic spectrum; to make provision about the regulation of broadcasting and of the provision of
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It is an offence under section 125 of the act to obtain access to the Internet when there is no intention to pay for that service. The legislation was intended to prevent the major defrauding of communications companies. Nevertheless, the individual practice of
438:, but which were not visible to an audience beyond the intended recipients. In 2022, a serving police officer and a former constable each received 12-week prison sentences for sending racist, misogynistic, ableist, and homophobic messages to a 446:
had been a member. Six more former police officers, retired at the time of the offensive communications, pleaded guilty to a similar but unrelated WhatsApp group in September 2023. Such prosecutions are not without controversy since they treat
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It was declared an offence to "persistently make use of a public electronic communications network for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety". Ofcom subsequently developed policies to reduce the number of
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Section 127 of the act makes it an offence to send a message that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character over a public electronic communications network. The section replaced section 43 of the
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amended the Communications Act 2003 to set out statutory and legal obligations for media distributors of on-demand content. The regulations define the content that can legally be distributed under an
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television and radio services; to make provision about mergers involving newspaper and other media enterprises and, in that connection, to amend the Enterprise Act 2002; and for connected purposes.
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issued interim guidelines, clarifying when social messaging is eligible for criminal prosecution under UK law. Only communications that are credible threats of violence, harassment, or
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The telecommunications licensing regime was replaced by a general authorisation for companies to provide telecommunications services subject to general conditions of entitlement, while
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account. Notable in this case was the rapidity of conviction: the fire occurred on 14 June and the case was heard but two days later. Mwaikambo was sentenced to three months in prison.
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broadband connections without their permission. In addition, the legislation also allowed for the first time non-European entities to wholly own a British television company.
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was established as the regulatory body ensuring that advertising on radio and television is not misleading, harmful, offensive, or beyond the boundaries of taste and decency.
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whether messages were aggravated by references to race, religion or other minorities, and whether they breached existing rules to counter harassment or stalking; and
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More recently, Section 127 has been used to prosecute those alleged to have sent grossly offensive messages on a public electronic communications network, such as
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Revisions to the interim guidelines were issued on 20 June 2013 following a public consultation. The revisions specified that prosecutors should consider:
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Wallis, Richard; Buckingham, David (10 June 2013). "Arming the citizen-consumer: The invention of 'media literacy' within UK communications policy".
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and is drafted as widely as its predecessor. The section has been used controversially to prosecute users of social media in cases such as the
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2020: Kate Scottow was convicted in February 2020 for tweeting "transphobic" insults. This conviction was quashed on appeal in December 2020.
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Broadcasters were required to carry a "suitable quantity and range of programmes" dealing with religion and other beliefs, as part of their
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amended the Communications Act 2003, giving Ofcom the responsibility of enforcing regulations concerning Internet copyright breaches.
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and paved the way for full-time community radio services in the UK, as well as controversially lifting many restrictions on cross-
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Restrictions on ITV company ownership were lifted, aside from "public interest" test that was added as an amendment in the
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Broadcasters were required to make a proportion of television programmes outside the London area (defined as outside the
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messages, by their nature only visible to intended recipients, as public because they are sent using publicly available
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candidate Joshua Spencer was sentenced to 9 weeks in prison under section 127 for sending threatening messages to
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Dishonestly obtaining access to the Internet with no intention to pay for the service was made a criminal offence.
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Provision was made for the requirements for blind and deaf television viewers. This has subsequently included
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and make it a criminal offence to not adequately restrict access to such content to those aged over 18.
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in 2005. There have been subsequent arrests for the practice. Piggybacking may also be a breach of the
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telegraph.co.uk: "Man jailed for sharing photo of dead Grenfell Tower fire victim on Facebook"
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2018: A Merseyside woman was convicted under the Communications Act for posting rap lyrics on
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platforms, rather than because the individual messages themselves are visible to the public.
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of £500 and an £85 victim surcharge. Her conviction was quashed on appeal in February 2019.
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the age and maturity of any wrongdoer should be taken into account and given great weight.
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On 19 December 2012, to strike a balance between freedom of speech and criminality, the
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Man arrested over 'Nazi salute dog' video Man arrested over 'Nazi salute dog' video
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The conviction of Count Dankula sets a dangerous precedent for freedom of speech
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Regulations amended the act in 2009 and 2010, making Ofcom the co-regulator for
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where a 43-year-old man posted one video and seven pictures of a victim of the
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when "swift and effective action ... to remove the communication" was taken; or
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as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from
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The revisions also clarified that criminal prosecutions were "unlikely":
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officer in question, in addition to £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.
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stations were recognised as a distinct third tier of radio alongside
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European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations
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The act had a large number of provisions, including the following:
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met.police.uk: "Man jailed for malicious communication offences"
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UK Office of Communications [4.4.1] | ICT Regulation Toolkit
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when the author of the message had "expressed genuine remorse";
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allowed Ofcom to take over regulatory responsibility for the
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first drafted in 2021 and as of 2023 still being debated by
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Political advertising on television or radio was prohibited.
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Man fined for hate crime after filming pug's 'Nazi salutes'
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The Independent, Shappi Khorsandi ,Friday 23 March 2018
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that any ITV operating company could own was abolished.
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when messages were not intended for a wide audience.
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History of telecommunications in the United Kingdom
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Crown Prosecution Service. 19 December 2022 8: 1753:Science and technology in the United Kingdom 909:Professor Lilian Edwards (19 October 2012). 273:Ofcom given the responsibility to 'promote' 167:). Among other measures, the act introduced 35: 1258:. Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 534:Audiovisual Media Services Regulations 2014 329:Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice 2303: 2217:London & Provincial District Telegraph 1837: 1765: 1728: 1714: 1706: 216:retained its universal service obligation. 34: 2810:Internet censorship in the United Kingdom 2437:Defence Science and Technology Laboratory 2612:South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands 1336:Pocklington, Rebecca (6 February 2014). 198:Sending a malicious communication using 152:. The new act was the responsibility of 2815:Political funding in the United Kingdom 2690:Interception of Communications Act 1985 1205:"Reform of the Communications Offences" 655: 594:Airdrie Sheriff Court on 23 April 2018. 482:and to reduce concerns about limits on 2780:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 2003 2478:Internet Service Providers Association 2447:International Telecommunication Union 1640:Tominey, Camilla (17 December 2020). 1262:from the original on 21 November 2014 1015:Dominic Casciani (19 December 2012). 7: 2795:Communications in the United Kingdom 2751: 2172:British and Irish Magnetic Telegraph 2167:Bonelli's Electric Telegraph Company 1652:from the original on 23 October 2021 1181:Andrew Tettelborn (18 August 2023). 1084:from the original on 26 October 2013 1027:from the original on 31 October 2013 836:from the original on 24 October 2007 386:court with no right to jury trial. 2650:British Telecommunications Act 1981 1053:from the original on 5 October 2013 996:from the original on 1 January 2020 855:Stewart Mitchell (17 August 2009). 796:"Wireless hijacking under scrutiny" 124:Text of the Communications Act 2003 2800:Broadcasting in the United Kingdom 1582:Docking, Neil (22 February 2019). 1563:from the original on 21 April 2018 1484:from the original on 21 March 2018 1416:from the original on 28 March 2018 948:from the original on 26 April 2014 670:from the original on 22 April 2014 25: 1533:from the original on 22 June 2018 1348:from the original on 25 June 2020 936:Amanda Bancroft (27 April 2012). 863:from the original on 27 July 2014 826:"Man arrested over wi-fi 'theft'" 806:from the original on 2 March 2009 727:European Journal of Communication 207:Independent Television Commission 2750: 2738: 2737: 2720:UK telephone code misconceptions 1594:from the original on 21 May 2020 886:. Harassment Law. Archived from 146:Parliament of the United Kingdom 53:Parliament of the United Kingdom 46: 794:Jane Wakefield (28 July 2005). 638:Telecommunications Act (Canada) 505:Advertising Standards Authority 391:Director of Public Prosecutions 256:The limit on the proportion of 2557:British Indian Ocean Territory 2182:Cable & Wireless Worldwide 1072:David Barrett (20 June 2013). 643:Telecommunications Act of 1996 280:The Gaelic Media Service (now 1: 2457:Phone-paid Services Authority 1871:BT Business and Public Sector 1748:Economy of the United Kingdom 1254:Ed Vaizey (4 November 2014). 1106:. 2 June 2023. Archived from 227:The public service remit for 2519:British Overseas Territories 202:was made a criminal offence. 2541:British Antarctic Territory 2432:Broadband Stakeholder Group 2282:Universal Private Telegraph 632:Telecommunications Act 1997 616:and her constituency staff. 364:Telecommunications Act 1984 265:public service broadcasting 150:Telecommunications Act 1984 2831: 2227:National Telephone Company 2187:Electric Telegraph Company 2157:Atlantic Telegraph Company 527:Postal Services Commission 32:United Kingdom legislation 27:United Kingdom legislation 2790:United Kingdom public law 2733: 2655:British telephone sockets 1788:BT Wholesale and Ventures 1743: 769:"Communications Offences" 664:"Communications Act 2003" 484:the freedom of expression 45: 40: 2665:BT site engineering code 2617:Turks and Caicos Islands 2493:London Internet Exchange 2177:Cable & Wireless plc 1372:22 December 2017 at the 739:10.1177/0267323113483605 519:Postal Services Act 2011 512:Digital Economy Act 2010 374:comments concerning the 357:Malicious communications 351:Computer Misuse Act 1990 2715:Telephone numbers in UK 2675:Communications Act 2003 249:controlling all of the 138:Communications Act 2003 36:Communications Act 2003 2562:British Virgin Islands 2370:Marconi Communications 666:. legislation.gov.uk. 499:in the UK, along with 382:, so it is tried in a 301:The authority for the 222:silent telephone calls 111:17 July 2003 (partial) 2527:Akrotiri and Dhekelia 2095:Virgin Media Business 1783:Babcock International 1440:28 March 2018 at the 1193:on 10 September 2023. 627:UK public service law 490:Amendments to the act 376:murder of April Jones 187:Provisions of the act 2680:Earth stations in UK 2207:Gutta Percha Company 1929:Cable & Wireless 1848:Andrews & Arnold 1508:24 June 2018 at the 1459:28 June 2018 at the 1391:19 June 2017 at the 1310:18 July 2020 at the 694:23 June 2012 at the 545:Notable prosecutions 397:(such as aggressive 2267:Submarine Telegraph 2202:General Post Office 1621:on 24 February 2019 1295:, 13 November 2010 1160:The Critic Magazine 576:Grenfell Tower fire 378:. 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Index

CA 2003
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title
Citation
Tessa Jowell
Royal assent
Commencement
Text of the Communications Act 2003
legislation.gov.uk
Act
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Telecommunications Act 1984
Culture Secretary
Tessa Jowell
Ofcom
Oftel
legal recognition
community radio
media ownership
Wi-Fi
social media
Independent Television Commission
BT
silent telephone calls
Channel 4
M25
House of Lords
ITV plc
ITV
ITN

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