Communications Act 2003

Section 127 of the Communications Act makes it an offence to send offensive, indecent, obscene, or menacing messages through a public electronic communications network. This is often applied in cases of cyberbullying, hate speech, and online abuse.

Source

Other Legislation from United Kingdom

Act on Cybercrime/Online Intellectual Property Protection

• Computer Misuse Act 1990 (CMA)
• Data Protection Act 2018
• Digital Economy Act 2017
• Fraud Act 2006
• Online Safety Act 2023
• The Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988 (CDPA)
• The Trade Marks Act 1994

Cooperation and International Efforts

• Extradition Act 2003
• Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Treaty (MLAT)

Criminal Code/Law Enforcement

• Criminal Law Act 1977
• Offences Against the Person Act 1861

Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection

• Computer Misuse Act 1990
• National Security and Investment Act 2021
• Network and Information Systems (NIS) Regulations 2018
• Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021
• The Investigatory Powers Act 2016 (IPA)

Data Protection and Privacy

• Data Protection Act 2018
• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

Illegal Gambling

• Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014
• Gambling Act 2005
• National Lottery Act 1993

Online Hate Speech and Illegal Content

• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
• Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
• Defamation Act 2013
• Malicious Communications Act 1988
• Public Order Act 1986
• The Equality Act 2010