‘Free speech’ and online offences

Today’s briefing in the Guardian explores what we can learn from the recent UK riots about the criminal justice system.

British courts have long held that freedom of speech does not entitle people to incite violence. Part of the outrage may be due to a perception that online behaviour is somehow exempt from this general principle; these sentences may change that.

Cassia Rowland, a researcher focused on criminal justice at the Institute for Government, added:

I think most people have been aware for some time that online behaviour may be illegal. But they may not see that their own behaviour can qualify to be taken seriously as a criminal offence, especially in this kind of context.