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UK Government
ONLINE HARMS WHITE PAPER CONSULTATION
[2019]

The DCMS Online Harms White Paper set out the government’s plans for a ‘world-leading package of measures to keep UK users safe online’.

DCMS invited individuals and organisations to provide views on their Online Harms White Paper, published on www.gov.uk on the 8th April 2019 and presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and the Secretary of State for the Home Department

We listened to opinions, comments and insights from our valued SECyber partners.

The Consultation is now closed - thank you for your input, South East Cyber's response can be found here:

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LAW ENFORCEMENT

We were interested in hearing from those working in law enforcement - specifically around the challenges facing those trying to build cases for the prosecution:

  • what’s not working

  • why it’s not working

  • how the proposed regulation will help where current legislation is apparently failing

TECHNICAL SECURITY
SPECIALISTS

Calling all experienced technical security specialists (high-level and low-level system design and architecture)

 

We were keen to hear your views around:

a) existing technical security requirements and controls that organisations already have to comply with by legislation, regulation and standards - but aren't*

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b) technical security controls that could help mitigate the risks from the online harms listed in the White Paper 

 

*This includes specific mandatory contractual clauses, for example, clauses within HMG’s model contracts, UK government framework clauses such as GCloud, GDPR technical and organisational controls and internal organisational security standards and policies referring to ‘MUST’ 
 

Please note we were not referring to clauses that refer to basic hygiene controls such as Cyber Essentials or un-scoped ISO27001 compliance (as oppose to specific certification with an appropriately scoped SOA).

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LEGAL PROFESSION

Existing legislation relating to social media offences, includes, but is not limited to, the list below. How do you think the White Paper's proposed regulator role will impact successful prosecutions? Positive and Negative feedback is welcome! 

  • Making a threat to kill, contrary to section 16 Offences Against the Person Act 1861

  • Harassment or stalking, contrary to sections 2, 2A, 4 or 4A Protection from Harassment Act 1997

  • Controlling or coercive behaviour, contrary to section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015

  • Blackmail, contrary to section 21 Theft Act 1968

  • Contempt of court, contrary to the Contempt of Court Act 1981

  • Publishing material which may lead to the identification of a complainant of a sexual offence, contrary to section 5 Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992

  • Breach of a restraining order, contrary to section 5 Protection from Harassment Act 1997

  • Disclosing private sexual images without consent (“revenge pornography”), contrary to section 33 Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015

  • Causing sexual activity without consent, or causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, or sexual communication with a child contrary to sections 4, 8, 13, 15A Sexual Offences Act 200

  • Taking, distribution, possessing or publishing indecent photographs of a child, contrary to section 1 Protection of Children Act 1978 and Part III Public Order Act 1986

  • Section 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988  | Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003

Speaking with the Judge
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