Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Cyber-flashing likely to become a criminal offence - Dorries

Cyber-flashing likely to become a criminal offence - Dorries

Ministers are working towards making the unsolicited sending of obscene images via wi-fi or Bluetooth a criminal offence, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries has said.

She told MPs that "cyber-flashing" was likely to be "within the scope" of the upcoming Online Safety Bill.

And she said that online platforms who failed in their duty of care for users would face criminal sanctions.

They must "change their behaviours now", Ms Dorries added.

Cyber-flashing involves the sending of obscene pictures using Bluetooth or peer-to-peer wi-fi networks.

This often happens while people are in public places, such as on trains or buses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that cyber-flashing "should be illegal" and the Law Society recommended, in July that a specific offence should be created.

Asked about this when she appeared before the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee for the first time since entering the cabinet, Ms Dorries said: "My information is that much of that is actually in the scope of the bill and included in the work that we're doing."

Cyber-flashing has been a criminal offence for more than a decade in Scotland, but is not yet one in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Questioned over whether digital platforms failing to exercise a duty of care for users should face criminal sanctions, Ms Dorries replied: "Absolutely, yes."

She added: "It is the case that those online platforms can change their behaviours now. They can comply with their own terms and conditions now. They can remove harmful algorithms right now.

"They don't need to wait for this bill to come to the floor of the House [of Commons] to change the way they behave."

During the two-hour evidence session Ms Dorries denied frequently using the terms "snowflake" and "leftie"

Asked what her definition of a "snowflake leftie" was, she joked: "Probably my kids."

And then, asked what an "Islington leftie" was, she replied: "Again, one of my kids."

The culture secretary also denied a recent story that she had threatened to cut the BBC's funding after Today programme presenter Nick Robinson told Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "stop talking" during an interview.

The Sunday Times had reported that Ms Dorries had told allies: "Nick Robinson has cost the BBC a lot of money."

But she told the committee: "I've never criticised Nick Robinson. I didn't hear the interview that I was supposed to have criticised and I never made the comment. It was attributed to me but nobody can actually say I said it."

Ms Dorries also described the decision to remove male and female categories at music's Brit Awards from next year as "sad".

She added that she was "concerned in the future that women were not fairly represented in those awards".


Elle tells the BBC that she fears what might happen next after receiving an unwanted explicit video or picture


AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Trump Threatens Retaliatory Tariffs After EU Imposes €2.95 Billion Fine on Google
Tesla Board Proposes Unprecedented One-Trillion-Dollar Performance Package for Elon Musk
Gold Could Reach Nearly $5,000 if Fed Independence Is Undermined, Goldman Sachs Warns
Uruguay, Colombia and Paraguay Secure Places at 2026 World Cup
Trump Administration Advances Plans to Rebrand Pentagon as Department of War Instead of the Fake Term Department of Defense
Big Tech Executives Laud Trump at White House Dinner, Unveil Massive U.S. Investments
Tether Expands into Gold Sector with Profit-Driven Diversification
‘Looks Like a Wig’: Online Users Express Concern Over Kate Middleton
Florida’s Vaccine Revolution: DeSantis Declares War on Mandates
Trump’s New War – and the ‘Drug Tyrant’ Fearing Invasion: ‘1,200 Missiles Aimed at Us’
"The Situation Has Never Been This Bad": The Fall of PepsiCo
At the Parade in China: Laser Weapons, 'Eagle Strike,' and a Missile Capable of 'Striking Anywhere in the World'
The Fashion Designer Who Became an Italian Symbol: Giorgio Armani Has Died at 91
Putin Celebrates ‘Unprecedentedly High’ Ties with China as Gazprom Seals Power of Siberia-2 Deal
China Unveils New Weapons in Grand Military Parade as Xi Hosts Putin and Kim
Rapper Cardi B Cleared of Liability in Los Angeles Civil Assault Trial
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Druzhba Pipeline Incident Sparks Geopolitical Tensions
Cost of Opposition Leader Péter Magyar's Economic Plan Revealed
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Budapest Central European Fashion Week Kicks Off
U.S. Celebrates Labor Day
Hungarian National Team Captain Scores Epic Goal
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Japanese Customer Sways from VW to BYD after “Unbelievable” Test Drive amid Dealership Expansion
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
×