In an act worthy of a dictatorship, the security forces of the United Kingdom are carrying out more than 30 daily arrests due to posts considered "offensive" on social networks and other digital platforms.
Thousands of people are being detained and investigated for sending messages that cause "annoyance", "inconvenience" or "anxiety" to others via the Internet, phone calls, or mail.
According to arrest data obtained by The Times, the British police make approximately 12,000 annual arrests under Article 127 of the Communications Act 2003 and Article 1 of the Malicious Communications Act 1988.
These regulations penalize the sending of messages that may cause distress, either for being "grossly offensive" or for containing "indecent, obscene, or threatening" material disseminated through electronic communication networks.
During 2023, 37 different police forces made 12,183 arrests, which equates to about 33 per day. This figure represents an increase of almost 58% compared to the pre-pandemic period. In 2019, there were 7,734 arrests.
The figures have caused concern among civil rights organizations, who argue that the authorities are exercising excessive surveillance over the Internet and compromising freedom of expression by enforcing authoritarian communication laws.
There are various reasons why many arrests do not end in convictions, including out-of-court settlements. However, the most common reason is the lack of sufficient evidence, especially when the victim refuses to cooperate or proceed with legal actions.
