New Zealand has outlawed trolling.

[pcgeek11]

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/new-zealand-has-outlawed-internet-trolling/ar-AAcJlMn


New Zealand is taking a strong stand against internet bullying. Under a new bill outlawing “harmful digital communications,” the country can punish internet trolls with up to three years of jail time.

In New Zealand, anyone who has been convicted of sending digital communications that cause “serious emotional distress” can face a fine of up to NZ$50,000 (US$33,600) or two years in jail. The penalty increases to NZ$200,000 (US$134,500) for businesses in violation of the law. Furthermore, under an amendment to New Zealand’s Crime Acts, inciting or encouraging another person to commit suicide is punishable with up to three years of prison.


The madness never stops.

 

[StinkyPinky]

This is misleading and unsurprisingly a badly written article.

What the law actually does is make it possible for the police to come after people who directly and contentiously harass someone enough that they harm themselves or other people. In other words, it makes no distinction between harassment of people in the real world and online.

It does not mean you are going to be arrested and dragged out your home for calling someone a dick. It WILL mean you will be arrested if you harass someone to the point they kill or harm themselves.

 

[z1ggy]

So most members of ATOT that live in NZ have now stopped bothering to log in?

 

[Sonikku]

Fuck New Zealand.

 

[pcgeek11]

If you get seriously emotionally distressed by someone on the interweb... You have issues already.

The law is stupid IMO. I thought the UK was screwed up...

 

[Wonderful Pork]

If you get seriously emotionally distressed by someone on the interweb... You have issues already.

The law is stupid IMO. I thought the UK was screwed up...

I can't imagine how much more intense teasing has gotten since the advent of online social networks, particularly in kids/teens. I think its a good law - until now there are hardly any consequences, especially if a kid hurts or kills themselves.

 

[boomerang]

Safe space for all!

 

[Zodiark1593]

Couldn't any half wit just create a fake Facebook account from a coffee shop and continue on their way with impunity?

 

[zinfamous]

If you get seriously emotionally distressed by someone on the interweb... You have issues already.

While I tend to agree, you and I are at an age where we didn't grow up during those formative years where most social interaction occurred online.

It really is a different world out there for teens and younger. I don't think anyone in my generation (30s) and later can really appreciate it.

Everyone is sensitive to ridicule when they are young. And we certainly know that the internet has turned normal people into raging dicks at a rate unprecedented.

Now combine those two factors.

Still, seems like a dangerous law; though it would be unwise to do nothing to punish this type of bullying, which is a legitimate problem whether you refuse to believe that or not.

 

[BlitzPuppet]

If you get seriously emotionally distressed by someone on the interweb... You have issues already.

The law is stupid IMO. I thought the UK was screwed up...

May I be the first to call you old?

Things are different for kids now a days, especially since they seem to take social networking so seriously.

 

[destrekor]

The law isn't anti-trolling in the least.

It is anti-harassment. Plain and simple.

Online behavior that results in the emotional distress of a victim is harassment and/or bullying. Sometimes you can group trolling into that, but when they say trolling and are referring to predatory trolling like Anonymous or /b likes to do at times, that is just cashing in on the new language. That has and always will be harassment.

 

[zinfamous]

May I be the first to call you old?

Things are different for kids now a days, especially since they seem to take social networking so seriously.

It's the appropriate response, really, to anyone that complains along the lines of "Everyone is becoming pussies! I didn't need this or that when I was growing up!"

From generation to generation, the world changes and easily outgrows the generation that previously inhabited it. You can pretty much accept that you are old and that a lot of the world is simply beyond you when you start to complain about laws that change and adapt to meet challenges that simply did not exist before. And, without fail, old people refuse to accept that truth, every fucking generation. 😀 I know I'm not immune from that.

 

[SolMiester]

Fuck New Zealand.

Huh?

 

[GeekDrew]

The law isn't anti-trolling in the least.

It is anti-harassment. Plain and simple.

Online behavior that results in the emotional distress of a victim is harassment and/or bullying. Sometimes you can group trolling into that, but when they say trolling and are referring to predatory trolling like Anonymous or /b likes to do at times, that is just cashing in on the new language. That has and always will be harassment.

Please define "trolling".

 

[Newell Steamer]

New Zealand provides sanctuary to Kim Dot Com; ZOMG!! Greatest nation evar!!

New Zealand bans trolling; what a fucked up nation.

I don't agree with the ban on trolling, because it is impractical and damn near impossible to enforce. But, the internet's bipolar disorder is showing again.

 

[destrekor]

Please define "trolling".

troll
trōl
verb
gerund or present participle: trolling
1.
informal
make a deliberately offensive or provocative online posting with the aim of upsetting someone or eliciting an angry response from them.
"if people are obviously trolling then I'll delete your posts and do my best to ban you"


source: Google


Example: theflyingpig


The difference is that behavior is slightly more benign, not intended to cross the line into harassment. Internet bullying/harassment is the old schoolyard bullying made more pervasive, and without age restriction, as it has given adults plenty of grounds to unleash their inner immaturity as they jump on board with harassing others.

 

[mmntech]

The problem with laws like this is that they're very vague. Canada recently passed a similar law and IIRC, it's undergoing several constitutional challenges from civil liberties groups. The fear is that it may be used to silence critics of corporations or politicians. Which is certainly not unfounded.

A lot of these laws have come about as knee jerk reactions to a recent spat of teen suicides over cyber bullying. Which is indeed a big problem. Bigger problem is the laws were not well thought out.

 

[GeekDrew]

The difference is that behavior is slightly more benign, not intended to cross the line into harassment. Internet bullying/harassment is the old schoolyard bullying made more pervasive, and without age restriction, as it has given adults plenty of grounds to unleash their inner immaturity as they jump on board with harassing others.

What makes it more benign, since that apparently determines intent?

 

[waggy]

I know a few sites that would have to shut down if trolling was against the law..

 

[Mayne]

i'm still safe so far

 

[destrekor]

What makes it more benign, since that apparently determines intent?

Think trolling that happens here. Comments drawing more comment, usually to rile people up, but... do you take that emotional response to heart? Or do people just get worked up and respond hastily or whatever?

That kind of trolling doesn't lead to emotional distress that can lead to suicide or risky behavior. Actions that lead to that are entirely in the harassment category, not trolling.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Sure, New Zealand takes a hard line stance against trolls, but they've remained silent on their growing orc problem for years.

 

[GeekDrew]

That kind of trolling doesn't lead to emotional distress that can lead to suicide or risky behavior.

Unless you can speak on behalf of literally everyone in the scope of audience, you cannot possibly claim to be correct.

 

[Hugo Drax]

I could see some ATOT members serving life sentences if this was enacted in the US.

 

[destrekor]

Unless you can speak on behalf of literally everyone in the scope of audience, you cannot possibly claim to be correct.

Well it seems rather matter of fact. If you cross a certain line, you are no longer trolling - you are harassing.

Not sure how that can be made any more clear. There isn't a need to speak for anyone. Harassment has existed forever. The art of trolling has sort of existed forever, and is more prevalent now in the digital age. People have done certain things simply to elicit a particular response, usually in jest but with the intent to draw ire from the subject.

The clear difference is whether it is abusive or not. Harassment is abusive. Trolling for the sake of trolling is not something I've witnessed to be abusive, unless it is clearly intended to actually become harassment. If people call that trolling, that's on them, but harassment is harassment is harassment.