Harmful Digital Communications

Harmful Digital Communications Proposal Discussion

Facilitators: John Edwards, Steven Price.
Tags: Governance, Internet & the Law, Safety & Security.
Collaborative Notes: Harmful Digital Communications
Handout: principles

The government has accepted the  Law Commission’s recommendation to set up a regime for dealing with harmful online communications. It proposes a set of principles to regulate sensitive private disclosures, threats, indecency, harassment, false allegations, breaches of confidence, etc. Complainants will go first to an agency like Netsafe, which will try to mediate. But judges will have power to issue take-down orders after considering a range of contextual factors, the NZ Bill of Rights Act and whether a complainant can show they’ve suffered significant harm, including emotional distress. What are the risks and benefits of this system? Could it be better? Do we need it at all?