12,000 Brits get detained on annual basis due to social media posts
(MENAFN) In the UK, thousands of individuals are arrested each year for social media posts deemed threatening or offensive, according to data from The Times. The arrests are made under the Communications Act 2003 and the Malicious Communications Act 1988, which make it a crime to send messages that are "grossly offensive" or contain "indecent, obscene, or menacing" content. In 2023, police forces across the UK made 12,183 arrests—around 33 per day—marking a 58% rise from 2019, when there were 7,734 arrests.
Despite the high number of arrests, the conviction rate has decreased significantly, with many cases being dropped due to "evidential difficulties" or out-of-court settlements, often because victims do not wish to proceed. This trend has sparked criticism from civil rights groups who argue that vague laws are being used to stifle free speech and over-police online communication.
One controversial case highlighted was that of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were arrested after raising concerns in a private WhatsApp group about their daughter's school. Despite not using any offensive language, they were questioned for harassment and malicious communications, and detained for eight hours. Allen described the experience as making him feel like he was living in a "police state."
Despite the high number of arrests, the conviction rate has decreased significantly, with many cases being dropped due to "evidential difficulties" or out-of-court settlements, often because victims do not wish to proceed. This trend has sparked criticism from civil rights groups who argue that vague laws are being used to stifle free speech and over-police online communication.
One controversial case highlighted was that of Maxie Allen and Rosalind Levine, who were arrested after raising concerns in a private WhatsApp group about their daughter's school. Despite not using any offensive language, they were questioned for harassment and malicious communications, and detained for eight hours. Allen described the experience as making him feel like he was living in a "police state."

Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Most popular stories
Market Research

- Forex Expo Dubai 2025 Returns October 67 With Exclusive Prize Draw Including Jetour X70 FL
- Primexbt Wins Global Forex Award For Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform
- House Of Doge And Bitstamp By Robinhood Announce Strategic Partnership For NYSE:ZONE Treasury
- Solstice Announces Strategic Collaboration With Chainlink And Leading Custody And Venture Firms To Enhance Ecosystem Ahead Of USX Stablecoin Launch
- Chipper Cash Powers 50% Of Bitcoin Transactions With Bitcoin Lightning Network Via Voltage
- Edgen And Sahara AI Announce Strategic Collaboration To Pioneer Decentralized Validation In Market Intelligence
Comments
No comment