Communications Act 2003

Section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 has gained some notoriety for the prosecution of the senders of offensive messages on Twitter. Section 127 makes it a criminal offence if a person sends or causes to be sent, by means of a public electronic communications network, a message or otherwise that is 'grossly offensive or of an indecent or obscene or menacing character'. The Director of Public Prosecutions is to issue guidelines on when criminal charges should be brought against people posting abusive comments on social media networks. Please see 'Factual Programme Guidelines' - Policy on Online Postings including Twitter.