3 ms·

Man Charged in UK over Facebook Joke

2 points by mike-cardwell 14y ago

adrianhoward 14y ago
The word "joke" appeared nowhere in the title or story. He's being prosecuted under section 127 of the Communications act: "The Communications Act 2003 section 127 covers the sending of improper messages. Section 127(1)(a) relates to a message etc that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character and should be used for indecent phone calls and emails. Section 127(2) targets false messages and persistent misuse intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; it includes somebody who persistently makes silent phone calls (usually covered with only one information because the gravamen is one of persistently telephoning rendering separate charges for each call unnecessary). [...] Section 127 can be used as an alternative offence to such crimes for example as hate crime (including race, religion, disability, homophobic, sexual orientation, and transphobic crime), hacking offences, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, amongst others. " http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#an11 http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#...
- mike-cardwell 14y ago
  Ok. Here's another article about it where "joke" is used: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-man-charged-over-1365779 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-man-charged...
lewisflude 14y ago
Not sure I see anything wrong about this...
- mike-cardwell 14y ago
  This sounds like you are literally unable to identify the controversy... Is that the case? Or is it that you think it's totally appropriate to arrest somebody for making a crude joke which some people find offensive?
  - lewisflude 14y ago
    I meant that I can't see anything wrong with the joke. :)
mike-cardwell 14y ago
Appears it has already been on Reddit too: http://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/113585/man_charged_over_grossly_offensive_april_jones/ http://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/113585/man_ch...
mike-cardwell 14y ago
A number of places on the Internet are claiming that the joke was: What's the difference between Mark Bridger and Santa Claus? I'm not going to repeat the punchline as I'm British and don't want to go to jail. Google is your friend.

2 points by mike-cardwell 14y ago

The word "joke" appeared nowhere in the title or story. He's being prosecuted under section 127 of the Communications act: "The Communications Act 2003 section 127 covers the sending of improper messages. Section 127(1)(a) relates to a message etc that is grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character and should be used for indecent phone calls and emails. Section 127(2) targets false messages and persistent misuse intended to cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; it includes somebody who persistently makes silent phone calls (usually covered with only one information because the gravamen is one of persistently telephoning rendering separate charges for each call unnecessary). [...] Section 127 can be used as an alternative offence to such crimes for example as hate crime (including race, religion, disability, homophobic, sexual orientation, and transphobic crime), hacking offences, cyber bullying, cyber stalking, amongst others. " http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#an11 http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/a_to_c/communications_offences/#...

mike-cardwell 14y ago
Ok. Here's another article about it where "joke" is used: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-man-charged-over-1365779 http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/april-jones-man-charged...

lewisflude 14y ago

Not sure I see anything wrong about this...

mike-cardwell 14y ago
This sounds like you are literally unable to identify the controversy... Is that the case? Or is it that you think it's totally appropriate to arrest somebody for making a crude joke which some people find offensive?
- lewisflude 14y ago
  I meant that I can't see anything wrong with the joke. :)

mike-cardwell 14y ago

Appears it has already been on Reddit too: http://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/113585/man_charged_over_grossly_offensive_april_jones/ http://www.reddit.com/r/unitedkingdom/comments/113585/man_ch...

mike-cardwell 14y ago

A number of places on the Internet are claiming that the joke was: What's the difference between Mark Bridger and Santa Claus? I'm not going to repeat the punchline as I'm British and don't want to go to jail. Google is your friend.