More On The British Anti-Troll Law

The Telegraph has a very sage editorial, stating

Social networks have a duty to identify internet bullies who cower behind anonymity.

Amen and amen!  And then the backstory-

The conviction and sentencing of Frank Zimmerman, the 60-year-old man who threatened my children anonymously over the internet last summer, has aroused much comment. Mr Zimmerman, after having variously claimed that he was agoraphobic, too poor to eat (yet able to use a computer) and that his computer was hacked, was arrested when he failed to turn up for sentencing. He was finally given a suspended term with an extensive restraining order, barring him from contacting me and various other people in public life. If he breaches it, he will go to jail.

With much more, and then concluding

Ultimately, the internet is just another form of communication; once that is accepted, including by service providers and social media, trolling will lessen. After all, not so long ago it was acceptable to drink and drive. As victims repeatedly fight back, we can hope to see a culture shift.

Fighting back.  That’s what we all are responsible to do.

Related articles

• Dealing with trolls: a guide (guardian.co.uk)
• Drawings of internet trolls – in pictures (guardian.co.uk)
• What is an internet troll? (guardian.co.uk)
• Warrant out for web ‘troll’ who threatened Tory MP (scotsman.com)
• Quoted: Court orders Facebook to reveal trolls’ identities (blogs.siliconvalley.com)
• Anonymous Web Trolls, You’ve Been Warned (zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com)