UK promises to prosecute online hate crimes vigorously
The new guidelines outline a stance on cyber hate attacks on the basis of race, religion, disability, sexuality or transgender identity.
British prosecutors have promised to vigorously prosecute hate crimes committed on social media.
The new guidelines issued Monday outline a tough stance on cyber hate attacks on the basis of race, religion, disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity. Alison Saunders, the director of public prosecutions, says hate crime "has a corrosive effect on our society and that is why it is a priority area."
She says "the internet and social media in particular have provided new platforms" for bad behavior.
Community groups monitoring anti-Semitic and Islamophobic abuse have reported that a significant proportion of incidents involve the internet. There was also a surge in reports following the European Union referendum in June 2016 in which Britons chose to leave the bloc.